On field, Aaron Hernandez proved to be a star player of the New England Patriots. Off field and in court, he was held to same standards as an ever day citizen; on Wednesday, a jury found Hernandez guilty of the first-degree murder of his friend Odin Lloyd.
Authorities stated that on June 17, 2013 a jogger found Lloyd’s body pierced with a number of gun shot wounds in an industrial park close to the home Hernandez’s home. Additionally, when the case was examined more in depth investigators found five shell casings at the scene of the crime as well as a wallet and car keys in the pocket of the victim, both of which belonged to Hernandez.
Almost immediately, the police were suspicious of Hernandez. After all, they did have promising evidence against him and as the trial date approached, they were able to find more. Surprisingly enough, Hernandez admitted to the judge and 12 jurors that he was in fact present at the scene of the crime, but was not responsible. Instead, the defense claims that his two friends Ernest Wallace and Carlos Ortiz are allegedly accountable for the murder of Lloyd.
According to USA Today, “All 12 jurors and three alternates spoke to reporters Wednesday, saying they were shocked by the defense admission that Hernandez was at the scene of the killing — an admission that they said helped confirm that he was guilty.” Furthermore, access to home security videos might have helped provide more context for this unfortunate event.
USA Today states, “Security video from inside Hernandez’s home showed him holding what appeared to be a gun less than 10 minutes after Lloyd was killed. The surveillance system also captured Hernandez, Wallace and Ortiz relaxing at his home hours after Lloyd was shot, hanging out in the basement “man cave,” lounging by the pool and cuddling Hernandez’s baby daughter.”
It is unclear as to why Hernandez killed his friend Odin Lloyd, but it has been suggested that he might have known too much about Hernandez’s involvement in another fatal crime that occurred in 2012. Yet, in court there was no true motive offered as to why the crime was committed, other than the fact that Hernandez appeared angry at Lloyd just days before the murder.
Judge Susan Garsh sentenced the former Patriots player to life in prison without the possibility of parole. In addition to the first-degree murder conviction, Hernandez faces murder charges for a separate case in Boston. The trial is scheduled to begin in May.
