LAS VEGAS — O.J. Simpson's lawyer and a close friend say the former football star imprisoned in Nevada is sad to miss his sister's funeral.

Friend Tom Scotto calls the 62-year-old Simpson "distraught" about missing Wednesday's funeral for his younger sister, Carmelita Durio, in Elk Grove, Calif.

Durio died April 6 in a Sacramento hospital at age 60. Scotto blames kidney failure and stress following her collapse in a Las Vegas courtroom where Simpson was convicted last October of robbery and kidnapping.

Simpson is serving a nine to 33 year sentence at Lovelock State Prison.

Attorney Yale Galanter met Monday with Simpson to talk about their pending appeal of Simpson's conviction.

He calls it difficult for Simpson to miss mourning with family members.