Former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez has been indicted on a count of first degree murder (amongst other charges) relating the death of Odin Lloyd. The indictments came down the same day Hernandez was to appear in court on a probable cause hearing, but due to the indictment, such hearing became a moot point.
An indictment is pretty standard in a case such as this, and was widely expected from all sides. All the indictment means is that there is some evidence that links Hernandez to the murder. It is not a finding of guilt, rather it gives the District Attorney the right to proceed with a trial in the case.
The grand jury indictment charges Hernandez with killing 27-year-old Odin Lloyd, a semi-professional football player from the Boston area who was dating the sister of Hernandez’s fiancee. The six-count indictment also contains weapons counts. Hernandez, 23, pleaded not guilty to murder and weapons charges in June, and is being held without bail at a county jail.
Ernest Wallace, an associate of Hernandez’s, was indicted by the grand jury on a charge of being an accessory after the fact to first-degree murder. Another associate, Carlos Ortiz, is also being held. Ortiz was not indicted and, according to the Boston Globe, is cooperating with police and prosecutors.
It is alledged that Lloyd was shot five times, execution style, less than a mile from Hernandez’s North Attleborough home. A jogger found Lloyd’s body on June 17th, in a North Attleborough industrial park.
Prosecutors and police are also reportedly trying to gather evidence linking Hernandez to a double homicide that occured in Boston in July 2012. Reports this week surfaced that police believe they have found the gun from that shooting. However they have been unable to find the gun from the Lloyd killing.
The next step in the process will likely be setting a trial date for the crime.
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