OJ is released but bail is doubled

OJ Simpson has been freed on bail after a week behind bars in Las Vegas.

The former American Football star and actor was jailed for trying to contact a defendant in an armed robbery case that could lead to a life sentence.

He is charged with leading a robbery last year to get back his own sports memorabilia.

Clark County District Court Judge Jackie Glass, criticised him for being arrogant or ignorant and doubled his bail to £250,000 (£130,000), telling him to put his Florida home up as additional surety.

Glass ruled Simpson, 60, had breached the terms of bail set in November when he left a foul-mouthed telephone message for one of his co-defendants with his bail bondsman.

The message, which Simpson's lawyers said they did not dispute, was seen as a bid to dissuade the co-defendant from co-operating with authorities.

The judge said Simpson had been told clearly not to try to contact any defendant before the trial, either directly or indirectly.

He said: "I don't know, Mr Simpson, what the heck you were thinking. I don't know if it's just arrogance or ignorance or both."

Prosecutors asked for Simpson to be held behind bars until his trial or for new bail of at least $1 million (£510,000).

But Simpson's lawyer, Yale Galanter, said Simpson was neither a danger to the community nor a flight risk, noting that he "cannot even walk out of his front door without TV cameras following him."

He was driven away from the detention centre in Clark County in a white Mercedes-Benz amid tight security.

Simpson became recognisable around the world when he was acquitted in 1995 of murdering his ex-wife.

He and two co-defendants, Clarence "CJ" Stewart and Charles Ehrlich, face trial in April on a dozen charges, including kidnapping and armed robbery.

Simpson is accused of leading a group of men who stormed into a Las Vegas hotel room and took sports memorabilia at gunpoint from two collectors.

Defence lawyers argued Simpson went to the hotel only to recover his stolen belongings and did not have a gun.

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