LAS VEGAS -- Witnesses gave testimony Monday in the O.J. Simpson kidnapping and armed robbery trial.

The trial started off Monday morning with opening statements.

Prosecutors called the trial “the final chapter of O.J. Simpson's saga."

But defense attorneys said evidence will show Simpson never had intentions of breaking the law.

International media was back in Las Vegas for opening statements.

Prosecutors played portions of a recording from the night Simpson, his co-defendant, Clarence "CJ" Stewart and four other men allegedly robbed two sports memorabilia dealers inside the Palace Station Hotel and Casino last September.

“That audio will show threat, show force, show demands and show taking of properties from the victims in this case,” said prosecutor Chris Owens.

Simpson's defense attorneys said Thomas Riccio had a financial motive to make the recordings. Riccio is the man who set up the meeting between Simpson and the two alleged victims.

“What Mr. Riccio was most concerned with was selling the tape to TMZ,” said Simpson’s defense attorney, Yale Galanter.

Galanter said evidence will show the incident was not a robbery, but a recovery of personal items that were stolen from Simpson.

Four of Simpson's former co-defendants have taken plea deals and will testify against the football Hall of Famer.

Galanter said 61-year-old Simpson was set up.

“You will see firsthand how stories started to change when media outlets and tabloids were willing to write checks for testimony or interviews,” Galanter said.

But prosecutors said evidence will show it's Simpson's arrogance and hypocrisy that got him into trouble this time.

“We are going to explore the true face of Oranthal Simpson and his co-defendant, Clarence Stewart,” Owens said.

Bruce Fromong, one of the victims in the alleged armed robbery, told the court when Simpson and five other men barged into his hotel room, two of them were armed.

Simpson and Stewart are facing 12 charges. If convicted of kidnapping, the most serious charge, they could be sentenced to life in prison.

For more information on the Simpson case, visit the case's special section or view the national coverage.