O.J. Simpson arrives at a film premiere at The Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas in this Aug. 6, 2005 file photo. Las Vegas police have launched an investigation into a casino theft involving the well-known former football star. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

   BEIJING, Nov. 9 (Xinhuanet) -- Former National Football League star O.J. Simpson arrived at a courthouse Thursday in Las Vegas for a hearing to determine whether he will face trial on charges he and others robbed two sports memorabilia dealers in a Las Vegas hotel room.

    A Las Vegas justice of the peace will be asked to decide following a two-day hearing if there is enough evidence to take Simpson and two co-defendants to trial on charges they robbed two sports memorabilia dealers in a Las Vegas hotel room.

    In Simpson's mind, according to a close friend, the charges are rooted in Simpson being found not guilty in the 1994 slayings of his wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman.

    "He believes he's being tried for that now," said Tom Scotto, 45, a North Miami Beach, Fla., auto body shop owner.

    The men arrested in the Sept. 13 incident were brought together by Scotto's wedding.

    Simpson and co-defendants Clarence "C.J." Stewart and Charles Ehrlich face 12 charges, including kidnapping, armed robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, conspiracy and coercion. A kidnapping conviction could result in a sentence of life in prison with the possibility of parole. An armed robbery conviction could mean mandatory prison time.

    No one denies that Stewart, Ehrlich and former co-defendants Michael McClinton, Walter Alexander and Charles Cashmore went with Simpson and California collectibles broker Tom Riccio to meet memorabilia dealers Alfred Beardsley and Bruce Fromong in a casino hotel room.

    Simpson has maintained that he wanted to retrieve items he claimed had been stolen from him by a former agent, including the suit he wore the day he was acquitted in Los Angeles.

    (Agencies)