Aaron Hernandez Murder Trial Update: Guilty of First Degree Murder
After spending more than 35 hours deliberated, a Massachusetts jury has just returned a verdict of guilty of murder in the criminal trial of former NFL star Aaron Hernandez. Hernandez, who played three season with the New England Patriots (including making an appearance with the team at the 2012 Super Bowl) was charged with the 2013 murder of Odin Llyod, an acquaintance who was reportedly dating the sister of his fiancée. Llyod, who was 27-years-old at the time of his death, had been shot multiple times and his body was found roughly a mile from Henanadez’s house. The ex-tight end was also found guilty of various weapons charges, including illegally owning a firearm and illegally owning ammunition.
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The prosecution had trouble clearly explaining Hernandez’s exact motive for murdering Lloyd, but painted a picture of an unstable Hernandez (whose DNA they claim was found at the scene) lashing out due to heavy drug use and a violent temper. It was an issue that was played up heavily by the defense, which built its case on creating reasonable doubt.
This isn't the end of the Hernandez's courtroom drama. He is still awaiting trial for a double murder he is charged with having committed a little over a year before the Llyod killing. In that case, Hernandez is accused of firing a gun into a car, killing two men, Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado, and wounding a third. Authorities allege the incident arose from chance encounter-turned-dispute at a Boston-area nightclub.
Prosecutors In Aaron Hernandez Case Want To Use Recorded Phone Calls As Evidence
Hernandez is also being sued in civil court by a former friend, Alexander Bradley, who claims that Hernandez shot him in the face, costing Bradly his right eye, while the two were on a trip together in Florida four months before the Lloyd murder.