LAS VEGAS — One of the memorabilia dealers whom O.J. Simpson and five associates allegedly robbed at gunpoint testified Thursday that he considered a recording of the encounter -- which is a key piece of evidence in the prosecution's case -- a "work of art."
Alfred Beardsley blamed auctioneer Thomas Riccio, not Simpson, for the events last year at the Palace Station Hotel & Casino. Beardsley suggested that Riccio, who secretly recorded the confrontation and sold the tape to TMZ.com for $150,000 before turning it over to police, might have tampered with it.
"I am not going to support that tape," said Beardsley, who has sued Riccio in civil court.
Earlier, jurors heard an FBI analyst testify that he could not determine whether the tape had been altered.
Simpson, 61, is charged with a dozen crimes, including kidnapping, which carries a potential life sentence. He maintains that he was trying to get back stolen footballs, plaques and personal mementos in Room 1203.
Beardsley's testimony underscores a challenge for the prosecution: Simpson's two alleged victims profess to like him. His other accuser, Bruce Fromong, became teary-eyed when he testified about his frayed friendship with the onetime football star. And Fromong was recorded moments after the confrontation saying he could make "big money" off the incident.
Testifying under subpoena, Beardsley was noticeably uncomfortable. He is 6-foot-6 but looked shorter because he slouched on the stand. He wore a button-down shirt instead of jail garb, though he is in California custody on a parole violation related to a stalking conviction.
Beardsley -- who declared "I do not want to be here" -- alternately crossed his arms and drummed his fingers. Many of his answers were monosyllabic, though he became animated when sparring with Dist. Atty. David Roger.
At one point, Beardsley declared that "whole chunks of conversation" were missing from the recording and referred to Riccio as a "rat." (During his testimony, Riccio called Beardsley "criminally insane.")
Roger played a section in which Beardsley calls 911, begs for police help and says, "We were just robbed at gunpoint by O.J. Simpson."
Roger asked whether anything on that recording was missing. Beardsley said no.
Roger switched his line of questioning.
"Do you know what a snitch is?" he asked.
"Yes," Beardsley said. "Thomas Riccio."
