US judge doubles OJ Simpson bail

OJ Simpson grimaced when he heard the new bail amount

A judge in Las Vegas angrily set tough new bail terms for OJ Simpson, accusing the ex-football star of "arrogance or ignorance" in breaking the first order.

Mr Simpson violated the terms by trying to contact a co-defendant in his armed robbery case and the judge doubled the bail to $250,000 (£127,000).

Mr Simpson was arrested in September for allegedly robbing at gunpoint two sports memorabilia dealers in a hotel.

Mr Simpson was acquitted of two murders in 1995 in a high-profile case.

He always denied killing ex-wife Nicole and her friend Ron Goldman and was cleared in a racially charged trial. Two years later he was found liable for the deaths in a civil case.

'Stolen items'

Mr Simpson's lawyer, Yale Galanter, told The Associated Press the bail bond had been paid and his client was expected to be released from jail within hours.

If you violate those rules and anything like this happens in future... you'll be back locked up Judge Jackie Glass

The former star was taken into custody by his bail bondsman in Florida last Friday for violating the terms of his release on 19 September.

He was arrested after allegations that he and several friends burst into a Las Vegas hotel room and robbed the two memorabilia dealers.

Mr Simpson, 60, denies the kidnapping and armed robbery charges.

His legal team says he was trying to retrieve stolen memorabilia that belonged to him and deny any guns were involved.

In court on Wednesday, Mr Simpson acknowledged that he understood the new terms.

It was heard that he tried to contact co-defendant Clarence Stewart.

Clark County District Court Judge Jackie Glass said: "I don't know Mr Simpson what the heck you were thinking - or maybe that's the problem - you weren't.

"I don't know if it's just arrogance. I don't know if it's ignorance."

The trial is due to start on 7 April.