Aaron Hernandez News Update: Former NFL Star Seeks New Trial, Attorney Reportedly Believes One Juror Influenced by Outside Factors
Attorneys for former NFL star Aaron Hernandez are seeking to have his murder conviction overturned based on their contention that one of the jurors considered evidence against Hernandez that may have never been introduced at trial.
Less than two months after the former New England Patriots tight end was found guilty of first-degree murder in the killing of Odin Lloyd, Fox News reports lawyers for Hernandez recently submitted four new filings at the Bristol County Superior Courthouse in Fall River, one of them labeled, "Defense Motion for post-verdict inquiry respecting a juror's exposure to extraneous matters."
Though the actual documents have been sealed, legal experts speculate the filing suggest the defense believes a juror may have been exposed to outside information other than what was properly admitted as evidence by Judge E. Susan Garsh during the trial, and it may have influenced the panel when it deliberated in mid-April.
Besides being convicted of the June 2013 killing of Lloyd, Hernandez is also facing double murder charges in connection with a drive-by shooting outside a downtown Boston nightclub in the summer of 2012.
Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado both died in a hail of bullets as they waited at a stop light and a trigger-man opened fire from a vehicle that pulled up alongside them. Police have since speculated Hernandez shot the victims because one of them accidentally spilled a drink on him inside the club and failed to apologize.
With a ruling in their favor, Hernandez's attorneys may be granted the right to question one or more of the jurors about potential developments.
During the trial, the jury was never sequestered making it more than reasonably possible that one of them may have been exposed to other information or allegations lodged against Hernandez.
The 25-year-old Hernandez has also been accused of shooting another man, Alexander Bradley, in the face in the heat of an argument, resulting in the man losing sight in his right eye.
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