OJ freed on parole after 9 years

served just a fraction of his 33-year sentence. During the hearing, Simpson gave a long explanation of his 2007 crime in which he held up two memorabilia dealers who had some of his possessions.

He tried to deflect blame, saying his associates should have served time for bringing a weapon.

He said: “Unfortunately, they got a getout-of-jail-free card when they said, ‘OJ told me (to do it)’. Nothing I can do about that.”

He also told the hearing in Nevada he had completed two “Alternative to Violence” classes while in prison. He said they were “the most important course any person in this prison can take”. But Simpson expressed little remorse for his crimes throughout the hour-long hearing. He said: “I would never, ever direct anyone to point a gun at anybody.

“I’m not trying to make an excuse. They were there for me. But in no way shape or form did I wish them any harm.”

He went on: “I’m no danger to pull a gun on anybody. I have never in my life pointed a gun at someone. I have never been accused of it in my life.”

The former running back gestured towards the man he was convicted of robbing, Bruce Fromong, and said: “Bruce knows I would never do that.”

Mr Fromong gave evidence in support of Simpson, who appeared via video link from Lovelock Correctional Facility. He was joined by his lawyer Malcolm Lavergne, his close friend Tom Scotto, his sister Shirley Baker, his brother Melvin and his daughter Arnelle.

Parole board chairman Connie Bisbee said dad-of-five Simpson qualified for early release mainly because he had been discipline-free during imprisonment and he had a “stable post-release plan”.

The hearing had earlier started on a light-hearted note when Ms Bisbee accidentally said Simpson was “aged 90”, to which he responded: “I feel like it.”

In a 1997 civil case, Simpson was found liable for the “wrongful deaths” of Brown and her friend Ron Goldman.

He still faces a $33million (£24.5 million) civil judgment won by the families of the two victims.