LAS VEGAS (AP) — A Nevada judge will take testimony and evidence on former football star O.J. Simpson's claim that he was so badly represented in his Las Vegas armed robbery and kidnapping trial that he should be freed from prison and get another trial.

Clark County District Court Judge Linda Marie Bell on Friday dismissed four of 22 grounds on which Simpson's appeals lawyer seeks his release.

But the judge agreed to consider 18 claims, including whether trial lawyer Yale Galanter had a conflict of interest and shouldn't have handled Simpson's case. Galanter declined comment Friday.

Simpson remains behind bars, serving nine to 33 years in prison.

He maintained he was trying to recover items stolen from him after his 1995 acquittal in the slayings of his ex-wife and her friend.

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