SPORTS star OJ Simpson goes on trial in Las Vegas today charged with kidnapping and armed robbery.

An all-white jury will hear the case which could see the former American football hero jailed for life.

Prosecutors begin their opening statements at Clark County District Court in Las Vegas this afternoon.

The charges against Simpson, 61, who now lives in Miami, relate to the alleged theft of sports memorabilia at the Palace Station Casino in Las Vegas on September 13 last year.

He denies the charges.

The suit he wore when he was cleared on October 3 1995 of murdering his wife Nicole Brown Simpson will be one of the items at the centre of the trial, which is expected to last five weeks.

Last week, judge Jackie Glass said she saw no evidence of a systematic exclusion of African-Americans from the jury, of nine women and three men, one of whom emigrated from the UK 31 years ago.

Simpson was cleared 13 years ago by a predominantly black jury.