Judge: Mother, Fiancee Can Attend Aaron Hernandez Trial

Former New England Patriot Aaron Hernandez is due in court on Tuesday before he goes on trial Friday for allegedly killing Odin Lloyd in 2013.

The judge overseeing the murder case against former New England Patriots star Aaron Hernandez says his fiancee and mother may attend the trial, even though they could be called as witnesses.

In addition, the judge rejected the prosecution's request to cover up a trophy case in the ex-player's home when jurors visit. Prosecutor William McCauley told Superior Court Justice Susan Garsh that the defense team wanted to impress jurors with the trophies; however, Hernandez's lawyer argued that the house should be shown to jurors exactly the way it was at the time of Odin Lloyd's death.

The judge also approved a prosecution request to bring jurors to several cellphone towers over the objections of Hernandez's lawyers, who said they were trying to re-enact their theory of the case. Prosecutors argued it is routine to show jurors the locations from which calls were placed.

Hernandez was in Bristol County Superior Court for a pretrial hearing ahead of his trial, which starts Friday with jury selection. He was a tight end for the Patriots with a $40 million contract when prosecutors say he killed Lloyd in an industrial park near his home in North Attleborough. Lloyd was found shot to death on June 17, 2013.

The trial is expected to last six to 10 weeks, and dozens of witnesses could be called, including Patriots coach Bill Belichick and team owner Robert Kraft.

Hernandez also has pleaded not guilty in the fatal shootings of two men in 2012 after an encounter at a Boston nightclub. That case has not yet gone to trial.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
Contact Us