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Aaron Hernandez has been found guilty of first-degree murder. On Wednesday, a jury convicted the disgraced former New England Patriots star tight end in the June 2013 killing of Odin Lloyd, the man dating Hernandez’s fiancee’s sister.
When the verdict was announced, Hernandez collapsed into his seat as his attorney consoled him and security personnel handcuffed him. Hernandez’s mother and fiancee burst into tears. The conviction carries a mandatory life sentence in prison without parole. He was also found guilty of unlawful possession of a firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition.
Lloyd’s body, which had been shot six times, was discovered in an industrial park. Hernandez’s legal team admitted that Hernandez was present when Lloyd was killed, but argued that he was not behind the slaying. Prosecutors built a case demonstrating that Hernandez orchestrated the murder, although the case was based largely on witness testimony and circumstantial evidence. No murder weapon was ever found.
Two other men, Carlos Ortiz and Ernest Wallace, have also been charged in the case, although they will be tried separately. Meanwhile, Hernandez is facing additional murder charges for a separate case in Boston. It’s not clear when that trial will begin. He has pleaded not guilty.
