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Lawyers defending O.J. Simpson in his armed robbery and kidnapping trial rested their case on Wednesday without putting the American football star on the witness stand.
Simpson, who could be jailed for life if convicted of charges arising from a confrontation with two sports memorabilia dealers in a Las Vegas hotel room last year, called only close friend Thomas Scotto to testify.
In his testimony Scotto denied attempting to put a contract on the life of one of the prosecution's witnesses, dismissing Clark County District Attorney David Roger's suggestion as "ridiculous."
Instead, Scotto claimed prosecution witnesses Walter Alexander and Michael McClinton had demanded 50,000 dollars in hush money after the September 13 robbery last year.
"Basically, they said they're in trouble -- it's all over TV," Scotto testified. "If things went bad they wanted 50,000 to get out of whatever trouble they were in."
Simpson's co-defendant Clarence Stewart, who also participated in the raid, will now call witnesses. Closing arguments are expected Thursday.
McClinton, Alexander and two other men who were involved have pleaded guilty to lesser charges and testified for the prosecution.
Simpson and Stewart are accused of raiding two memorabilia dealers who sought to sell to Simpson personal items allegedly stolen from the star's home in the 1990s.
Prosecutors have sought to show that Simpson served as the operation's ringleader and was aware that his cohorts would be carrying guns.
Defense lawyers allege Simpson didn't know weapons were being used and he was merely trying to retrieve items that were rightfully his.
Simpson, one of the most famous American football players of his generation during a glittering 1970s career, and later a memorable film actor, was the prime suspect in the brutal murders of his ex-wife Nicole and her friend Ron Goldman, a charge he vehemently denied.
Simpson was acquitted after a racially charged Los Angeles trial in 1995, a verdict that was greeted with widespread outrage across America.
Simpson was subsequently found liable for the deaths in a 1997 civil suit and was ordered to pay damages to the victims' families totaling 33.5 million dollars.
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