Simpson Wanted Guns During Raid, Witness Says

Nov. 13, 2007— -- O.J. Simpson asked his friends to bring guns to a planned confrontation with two sports memorabilia dealers in a Las Vegas hotel room, a witness testified Tuesday, contradicting Simpson's version of events.

Walter Alexander, who has made a plea deal with prosecutors, testified in a preliminary court hearing that Simpson asked him and Michael McClinton to bring guns when the men went to a hotel room to retrieve sports memorabilia that Simpson said belonged to him.

Watch live coverage of the Simpson hearing on ABC News Now.

Simpson also told McClinton to hold a gun in his hand when the group of men went to the Palace Station Hotel and Casino, where prosecutors allege they robbed two memorabilia dealers at gunpoint, Alexander testified.

Alexander's testimony contradicts the version Simpson and his attorneys have provided. They said that Simpson didn't know guns would be drawn during the incident and that Simpson didn't see a gun during the confrontation.

A judge will decide after the hearing if there is enough evidence for Simpson and two co-defendants, Clarence Stewart and Charles Ehrlich, to go to trial.

Last week, the man who allegedly set up the meeting, Thomas Riccio, testified that Simpson may not have seen a gun and that Simpson called after the incident to say he had not seen any weapons.

But Alexander said Tuesday that Simpson asked him and McClinton to bring "heat" to the Palace Station so the dealers would know they meant business and told McClinton to draw his weapon before going into the hotel room.

"Show them your weapons and look menacing," Simpson told McClinton, McClinton testified on Tuesday.

After the incident, Simpson told Alexander to say no guns were involved, Alexander said.

Simpson faces multiple felony charges, including armed robbery and kidnapping. Alexander pleaded guilty in October to conspiracy to commit robbery, in a plea deal with prosecutors. McClinton has also agreed to plead guilty.

Simpson, a former NFL star best known for his acquittal in the 1990s on two murder charges, has said that he was only trying to recover personal mementoes that he believed belonged to him. Alexander testified that Simpson told him the same thing before the alleged robbery, asking for help retrieving property that had been stolen from him.

When Alexander asked what if the police were called, Simpson "was like 'F*** the police. It's my s***. What they going to do, take me to jail for taking my s***?' It sounded convincing to me so we said, 'Okay not a problem,'" Alexander testified.When Alexander and Simpson walked into the room, McClinton had the gun drawn and was ordering the two memorabilia dealers, Alfred Beardsley and Bruce Fromong, to go to one side of the room, Alexander said.

Alexander also said that he and the other men took other items, such as Joe Montana lithographs, from the dealers.

"Going into the hotel, I thought I was just going to get Mr. Simpson's things that belonged to him, but after what happened, I'm realizing that a robbery took place and I'm feeling, 'Man you're in some trouble,'" Alexander said.

But, under cross examination, Alexander admitted that he had said earlier that he was willing to slant his testimony based on whether or not he received favorable treatment from the district attorney's office.

Asked by Simpson's attorney, Yale Galanter, if he could slant his testimony for money, Alexander said, "Not for money, because he (District Attorney David Roger) wasn't going to give me the deal I wanted."

Alexander pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery, which carries up to six years in prison. Roger has said that he will recommend a suspended sentence, meaning Alexander could receive probation. Alexander testified that he wanted complete immunity in exchange for his testimony.

Galanter accused Alexander of lying in his testimony and accused him of having worked as a pimp, which Alexander denied.