O.J. Simpson appeals against jail sentence

O.J. Simpson has launched an appeal against his conviction for armed robbery and kidnapping, reports The AP.

The former football star was jailed for up to 33 years in December after holding two sports memorabilia traders in a Las Vegas casino. It was also claimed that he stole items from the dealers.

According to court documents, Simpson has asked for the guilty verdict to be reversed on the grounds of judicial misconduct, insufficient evidence, lack of racial diversity on the jury and mistakes in sentencing and jury instructions.

One paragraph claims that the "cumulative error... was so egregious and prejudicial that the defence could not get a fair trial".

It is also thought that the papers, filed at Carson City Supreme Court yesterday, accuse the trial judge and prosecutors of improperly asking questions, as well as alleging witness intimidation in front of the jury.

However, prosecutor David Roger told the Los Angeles Times that while an appeal is Simpson's constitutional right, he is "confident that the guilty verdict will stand" because "the jurors saw Mr Simpson for the criminal he is".

Simpson, 61, had claimed that he was only trying to recover property that was rightfully his during the September 2007 incident.

A representative for the Supreme Court has said that the appeal could take up to one year, depending on "the number and complexity of the issues raised".