Jurors Deliberate For 6th Day In Aaron Hernandez Murder Case
MICHELLE R. SMITH, Associated Press
FALL RIVER, Mass. (AP) — The jury in the murder trial of former New England Patriots player Aaron Hernandez deliberated Tuesday for a sixth day.
The jurors appeared briefly in the courtroom in the morning before resuming their work.
Hernandez has pleaded not guilty in the killing of Odin Lloyd in June 2013. Lloyd was dating the sister of Hernandez's fiancee, Shayanna Jenkins. Testimony in the case lasted for more than two months.
The jury must reach a unanimous verdict. In addition to the murder charge, the jurors are also deciding whether to convict Hernandez of weapon and ammunition possession charges.
They deliberated for more than 27 hours during their first five days and have sent several notes, none related to the murder charge. They have asked for clarification on the possession charges, for permission to take a morning smoke break and for a list of the 439 exhibits in the case.
Jenkins sat in the front row Tuesday behind Hernandez, and they exchanged glances as he was brought into court briefly as the day began. Across the aisle, her sister, Shaneah, sat with Lloyd's mother and other family members.
Hernandez has been kept in a cell near the courtroom during the deliberations.
Prosecutors never offered a clear motive for why Hernandez would want to kill Lloyd.
The defense has acknowledged that Hernandez witnessed the killing but questioned why he would put his career on the line to kill someone. He had a $40 million contract with the Patriots at the time.
Prosecutors argued that Hernandez thought no one would believe he did it.
If convicted of first-degree murder, Hernandez would be sentenced to life in prison without parole. If convicted of second-degree murder, he would get life with the possibility of parole after 15 years.
Regardless of what happens in the Lloyd case, Hernandez will not be released from custody. He has pleaded not guilty to murder in Boston, where he is accused of the drive-by killing of two men in 2012. Prosecutors say he felt disrespected after one of the men bumped into him and spilled his drink.
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