The judge presiding over the murder trial of former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez removed a juror on Tuesday after it was discovered that she had previous discussions about evidence in the case and an early interest in serving on the jury panel.

Bristol County Superior Court Judge E. Susan Garsh dismissed Juror Number 96 after she was questioned in a closed-door hearing that lasted for over 90 minutes, reports The Associated Press. According to Judge Garsh, there was evidence that the juror specifically discussed an opinion about the case and the fact that it would be hard to convict Hernandez since the murder weapon was never found. The juror has also talked about the evidence that had not been admitted in the case.

"Over the last few years, the juror has expressed an interest in serving on this particular jury," Garsh said, according to ESPN. "There is credible evidence that the juror has attended more Patriots games than were disclosed on the questionnaire."

Twelve jurors and five alternates remain on the case.

Later on Tuesday, Shaneah Jenkins, the girlfriend of murder victim Hernandez is accused of killing, Odin Lloyd, testified that the day after he was found dead, the former NFL star offered her words of comfort and support.

Prosecutors allege that Hernandez and his two friends drove Lloyd "to a secluded, isolated area in North Attleborough, a town where Odin Lloyd knew no one but the defendant and the defendant's fiancée, Shayanna Jenkins. There Odin Lloyd was shot 6 times. He was killed, and he was left in a secluded area," said Bristol County prosecutor Patrick Bomberg, according to The Boston Globe.

On the other hand, the defense argues that Hernandez is being targeted for his celebrity status. Hernandez's lawyers have also pointed out that the suspect and the victim were friends and that any evidence that Hernandez was at the murder scene is not proof that he killed, conspired to kill or wanted to kill him.

Shaneah Jenkins said that she went stopped by the home of her sister and Hernandez hours after being told by police that her boyfriend was dead. Hernandez "asked me if I was OK, put his hand on my shoulder, told me he'd been through this death thing before," she said, adding that he told her it would get better with time.

She also made note that her sister displayed suspicious and secretive behavior that day. She then went in the basement with a folded up trash bag, came back upstairs and asked her sister to let her borrow her car, Shaneah Jenkins said.

Jenkins took the stand again on Wednesday for a third day, testifying that Hernadez and Lloyd often smoked marijuana together and hung out, reports USA Today.

Last year, the judge presiding over the case ruled that prosecutors cannot bring up the 25-year-old ex-NFL star's other murder charges in the 2012 drive-by slayings of two men. Hernandez was charged with fatally shooting the men over a spilled drink at a Boston nightclub, reports ESPN Boston. Hernandez has pleaded not guilty in both cases.

Prosecutors have suggested that the disgraced athlete was motivated to kill Lloyd after possibly showing him the spot where the double shooting allegedly took place. The judge, however, said there is no correlation between the two crimes.

Related