Former New England Patriot Aaron Hernandez was convicted of first degree murder Wednesday at Bristol County Superior Court in Fall River.
As the guilty verdict was read, Hernandez’s fiancée, Shayanna Jenkins, was sobbing. Prosecutors had said Jenkins had gotten rid of the murder weapon at Hernandez’s request.
Across the courtroom was her sister, Shaneah. She was the victim, Odin Lloyd’s girlfriend. Shaneeah was surrounded by Lloyd’s family, who have been a consistent presence in the courtroom throughout the trial, and were also very emotional.
In a press conference after the verdict was read, jurors said they were surprised when the defense acknowledged in their closing argument that Hernandez was at the scene of the murder. And they didn’t buy the claim that the two other men charged in the murder killed Lloyd when they were high on PCP and that Hernandez was in shock and didn’t know what to do about it.
Hernandez was sentenced to life in prison without parole. And he’s still facing charges in a 2012 double murder in Boston.
