The murder trial for former New England Patriots star tight end Aaron Hernandez enters Day 2 today, and can be live streamed free below.
The ex-NFL star is accused of shooting 27-year-old Odin Lloyd to death. Lloyd had been dating the sister of Hernandez's fiancée Shayanna Jenkins, and some believe had incriminating information about Hernandez's involvement in two other murders, which he will face trial for later this year.
On Day 1 of Hernandez's trial, his defense team was emphatic in defending the former football star in implying the prosecution had a flimsy case, and was just intent on nailing a high-profile suspect to the wall.
One of Hernandez's star attorneys, Michael Fee, called the prosecution's investigation "sloppy and unprofessional" and insinuated that one of Hernandez's co-defendants, Ernest Wallace, killed Lloyd.
"Mere presence is not enough," Fee said. "In our system we cannot be convicted of a crime just because we hang with the wrong people or are in the wrong place at the wrong time."
Fee implied that Lloyd didn't "fear" Hernandez as has been purported in the media, and in fact was looking forward to some "late night action in Boston." He also said Hernandez and Lloyd were close friends who smoked marijuana together, with Hernandez even nicknaming Lloyd "the blunt master."
Fee's opening statements weren't without some holes though. Judge Susan E. Garsh partly refuted his assertion that Hernandez couldn't be convicted of hanging with the wrong people.
"The Commonwealth does not require proof that the defendant himself performed an act that caused Odin Lloyd's death to establish that the defendant is guilty of murder," Garsh said.
"The Commonwealth requires two things, first the defendant knowingly participated in the commission of this crime and second, he did so with the intent required to commit the crime."
In other words, if the prosecution can prove that Hernandez orchestrated the murder, or simply knew it was going to happen, he can still be put away.
The prosecution's opening statements revolved around establishing a timeline, which Sports Illustrated's legal analyst Michael McCann deemed mostly a success. However, the lack of a clear motive, which Fee also pounced on, may prove to be a hurdle that is difficult for the prosecution to clear.
[Yahoo!]
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