After days of jury selection, the murder trial of former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez is underway at the Bristol County Superior Courthouse in Fall River.
Both sides agree that, at least initially, Aaron Hernandez and victim Odin Lloyd were friends. And while the prosecution says surveillance footage and other evidence of their comings and goings proves Hernandez killed Lloyd one night in June of 2013, the defense says Hernandez is an innocent man who was targeted by police because he was a famous football player.
In his opening statement, Assistant District Attorney Patrick Bomberg said a joint that was found next to Lloyd’s body had DNA on it from both the victim and Hernandez.
In his opening statement, defense attorney Michael Fee said police harassed witnesses whose statements didn’t match what they wanted to hear about Hernandez. He said while crime scene photos will show that Lloyd was killed, they won’t prove who murdered him or why.
Members of Lloyd’s family became visibly upset when those photos were shown during the prosecution’s statement. Lloyd's mother had to leave the courtroom.
