Aaron Hernandez's double murder trial delayed

Gail Waterhouse — Thu, 15 Oct 2015 21:36:24 -0400

By Meredith Gorman

A judge decided on Tuesday to delay the double murder trial of former New England Patriots player Aaron Hernandez from December 1 to January 19, 2016.

Judge Jeffrey Locke pushed the trial date back while prosecutors continue to seek evidence held by a third party law firm that once represented Hernandez. Neither party would disclose what the evidence is.

The judge closed Tuesday's hearing to the public, declaring that information discussed could compromise Hernandez’s Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and Sixth Amendment right to a fair trial.

Hernandez has pleaded not guilty
to killing Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado in July 2012 after a chance encounter at a Boston nightclub.

Aaron Hernandez's lawyers ask judge to toss warrant in double murder case

Gail Waterhouse — Wed, 07 Oct 2015 21:55:42 -0400

By Meredith Gorman

Lawyers for former New England Patriots tight-end Aaron Hernandez appeared in court on Tuesday to ask the judge to dismiss a search warrant that led to law enforcement officers' seizure of a vehicle that prosecutors believe Hernandez was driving when he murdered two men in 2012.

Hernandez has already been convicted of killing Odin Lloyd in June 2013 and is serving a life sentence in prison.

Hernandez is accused of murdering Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado in the early morning hours of July 16, 2012. According to prosecutors, Hernandez had a "chance encounter" with de Abreu and Furtado inside Cure Lounge in downtown Boston.

Abreu reportedly spilled a drink on Hernandez while the two were on the dance floor, and later that night Hernandez and a friend waited for Abreu, Furtado and another friend to leave the club, following them into the South End. Hernandez allegedly pulled up next to Abreu's car at a red light, and fired shots, hitting all three men in the car and killing Abreu and Furtado.

According to Hernandez’s lawyers, the search warrant law enforcement agents executed that resulted in the seizure of the SUV omitted the fact that Carlos Ortiz, who was with Hernandez on the night that Odin Lloyd was killed, failed a lie detector test that ultimately led authorities to the Toyota 4Runner vehicle at Hernandez’s uncle’s home in Bristol, Conn. As a result, Hernandez’s defense believes there is no basis to form probable cause.

Hernandez’s lawyers also asked the judge to dismiss his witness intimidation charge. Prosecutors say that Hernandez shot associate Alexander Bradley in the face about seven months after the double homicide after Bradley made a comment that implied that he could “no longer be trusted.” Hernandez’s lawyers asked the judge to dismiss this charge because, they argued, the grand jury that indicted Hernandez was not made aware of
the contradictory statements that Bradley made regarding who shot him.

Safiro Furtado | Homicide Watch Boston

Aaron Hernandez's double murder trial delayed

Aaron Hernandez's lawyers ask judge to toss warrant in double murder case