Aaron Hernandez Murder Trial

[jj-cyclones]

Opening statement were today. Trial expected to last 6-10 weeks.


http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-s...begin-in-aaron-hernandez-trial-183612099.html

Opening statements concluded shortly after 1:30 p.m. ET. Once both attorneys concluded their statements, the judge reminded the jury of Massachusetts' "joint venture" law, which allows for an individual to be convicted of murder even if they are simply involved with the act and did not do the actual killing ... if, for instance, someone was present at a murder but did not actually perform the deed. This is critical in cases of circumstantial evidence, as the Hernandez trial is.

http://www.necn.com/news/new-englan...rsday-in-Aaron-Hernandez-Trial-290117281.html

Hernandez sat at the defense table, chewing gum and reading notes from a legal pad. During a break prior to the start of opening statements, he was turned around talking to his mother. They were both smiling, and Hernandez seemed engaged and loose, even laughing at one point.

Might be laughing now but the amount of circumstantial evidence they have on him sounds pretty damning.

 

[Mr Janny]

Opening statement were today. Trial expected to last 6-10 weeks.


http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-s...begin-in-aaron-hernandez-trial-183612099.html




http://www.necn.com/news/new-englan...rsday-in-Aaron-Hernandez-Trial-290117281.html



Might be laughing now but the amount of circumstantial evidence they have on him sounds pretty damning.

It just depends on what they've got. The judge threw out a key piece of evidence; the cell phone text sent by the victim shortly before his death. it said something along the lines of "Did you see who I'm with? NFL" I'm not sure what the grounds for tossing it were, but that was a blow to the prosecution. You never know with these things. I could just as easily see him get off as I could be convicted.

 

[jj-cyclones]

It just depends on what they've got. The judge threw out a key piece of evidence; the cell phone text sent by the victim shortly before his death. it said something along the lines of "Did you see who I'm with? NFL" I'm not sure what the grounds for tossing it were, but that was a blow to the prosecution. You never know with these things. I could just as easily see him get off as I could be convicted.

I believe the judge threw them because she thought the text messages were sent to Odin's sister to 'brag' about who he was with, rather than out of fear for his life. Which I can kinda see.

Regardless, you're right...never know with these high profile cases.

 

[intrepid27]

But all they have is circumstantial evidence. Heard a legal "expert" on CNN yesterday say that the prosecutions case is not near as strong as they need to be.

 

[Mr Janny]

I believe the judge threw them because she thought the text messages were sent to Odin's sister to 'brag' about who he was with, rather than out of fear for his life. Which I can kinda see.

Regardless, you're right...never know with these high profile cases.

Even if they weren't out of fear, they would have placed him with Hernandez just prior to his death, and from your link, in Massachusetts, you don't have to have actually pull the trigger to be guilty of murder, only be present. That text would have gone a long ways toward establishing who Odin was with just before he died.

 

[jj-cyclones]

But all they have is circumstantial evidence. Heard a legal "expert" on CNN yesterday say that the prosecutions case is not near as strong as they need to be.

From the yahoo link...

...the prosecution will show that DNA tests revealed Hernandez's DNA was present on a shell casing found in the car driven that night.

This is the first time I've heard they have DNA on Hernandez so if what the prosecution said is true in their opening statements, that is pretty big news.

 

[jj-cyclones]

Even if they weren't out of fear, they would have placed him with Hernandez just prior to his death, and from your link, in Massachusetts, you don't have to have actually pull the trigger to be guilty of murder, only be present. That text would have gone a long ways toward establishing who Odin was with just before he died.

Good point. Any evidence throw out in a circumstantial case is never good for the prosecution but with the video showing Odin getting in the car with Hernandez I can't see them letting him walk (this is why I wouldn't be a good juror).

 

[SeaClone]

It just depends on what they've got. The judge threw out a key piece of evidence; the cell phone text sent by the victim shortly before his death. it said something along the lines of "Did you see who I'm with? NFL" I'm not sure what the grounds for tossing it were, but that was a blow to the prosecution. You never know with these things. I could just as easily see him get off as I could be convicted.

It has to do with rules of evidence and hearsay. Generally, hearsay, which is a statement made out of court (e.g., text message) that is submitted to provide evidence of the matter asserted in the statement (e.g., as evidence to support a position that OL was with AH), is not admissible in court. There are several exceptions to the general rule, but the judge felt none fit this case. In general, hearsay is not admissible because of the person offering the statement (e.g., the sister) did not directly witness the matter asserted in the statement (e.g., that OL was with AH), so it is impossible to definitively know whether the person (e.g., OL) is making a true statement.

Further, in this particular case, the text is a little ambiguous. "NFL" can mean a lot of things, and OL is not here to explain what he meant by "NFL."

 

[Cyclones_R_GR8]

It just depends on what they've got. The judge threw out a key piece of evidence; the cell phone text sent by the victim shortly before his death. it said something along the lines of "Did you see who I'm with? NFL" I'm not sure what the grounds for tossing it were, but that was a blow to the prosecution. You never know with these things. I could just as easily see him get off as I could be convicted.

The problem with this is you are left to assume he meant Hernandez which wouldn't constitute evidence.

 

[jj-cyclones]

http://network.yardbarker.com/author/article_external/18179444?widget=true

According to The Boston Globe, Bomberg said that a marijuana joint found next to Lloyd’s body contained DNA from both Lloyd and Hernandez. They also say that a footprint matching Hernandez’s shoe was found at the murder scene in the industrial park in North Attleboro where Lloyd was killed. Hernandez’s DNA was also said to have been found on a .45-caliber shell casing in the car he rented.

Glad they found some hard evidence to keep this idiot in prison.

 

[jj-cyclones]

http://www.cnn.com/2015/02/10/us/shayanna-jenkins-hernandez-trial/index.html?eref=rss_topstories

Hernandez's fiance granted immunity to testify. Huge for the prosecution.

 

[jj-cyclones]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Jury deliberations have begun...far from a slam dunk.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]If the jury comes back with guilty on 1st degree murder, he has life without parole.

If the jury comes back with guilty on 2nd degree murder, he can be paroled after 15 years.[/FONT]

 

[TXCyclones]

A LOT of circumstantial evidence. No motive was established. No murder weapon. His attorney admitted that he was there and witnessed it and got scared. I just don't see 1st Degree on this one.

 

[jbindm]

Regardless of the verdict, he'll still have to stand trial for two other murders in Boston that occurred a year before Odin Lloyd's murder.

 

[Cyclones_R_GR8]

A LOT of circumstantial evidence. No motive was established. No murder weapon. His attorney admitted that he was there and witnessed it and got scared. I just don't see 1st Degree on this one.

So according to Hernandez's lawyer Aaron witnessed the murder but won't say who did it? Sounds plausible :skeptical:

 

[chadly82]

all 3 of them probably pumped a few shots in him considering there was 6 bullets in the victim.

 

[jj-cyclones]

all 3 of them probably pumped a few shots in him considering there was 6 bullets in the victim.

All of the bullets were from the same gun.

 

[3TrueFans]

All of the bullets were from the same gun.

Pop, pop, pass.

 

[chadly82]

All of the bullets were from the same gun.

a glock with 6 bullets and they all want the guy dead but you cant find the murder weapon with all the prints on it is a real good possibility.

 

[Firefighter4Cy]

Verdict reached today. Hernandez charged with the murder. Life in prison with no parole option.