"Aaron Hernandez played offense for the New England Patriots, but what he needs most now is a strong defense. On Thursday, Aug. 22, the ex-NFL player was indicted by a grand jury on a first-degree murder charge in the shooting death of his former friend, Odin Lloyd.
Hernandez, 23, was supposed to appear in court to argue the evidence against him in a probable cause hearing, but now that he's been indicted, the case will proceed directly to Superior Court. According to a court filing, he faces five weapons charges in addition to the first-degree murder charge.
If convicted, the athlete may be confronted with a possible sentence of life in prison without parole.
Lloyd, 27, was found dead on June 17 after being shot five times and left in an industrial park just a half-mile from Hernandez's house in North Attleborough, Mass. Prosecutors allege that Hernandez -- along with Carlos Ortiz and Ernest Wallace, both of whom have been indicted on lesser charges -- orchestrated Lloyd's murder after he was caught talking to people Hernandez didn't like.
Hernandez, who is also being investigated in a July 2012 drive-by double homicide in Boston, was subsequently taken into custody on June 26. He pleaded not guilty to the charges against him and has been held without bail ever since.
This article originally appeared on Usmagazine.com: Aaron Hernandez Indicted on First-Degree Murder Charge in Odin Lloyd Shooting"
Hernandez, 23, was supposed to appear in court to argue the evidence against him in a probable cause hearing, but now that he's been indicted, the case will proceed directly to Superior Court. According to a court filing, he faces five weapons charges in addition to the first-degree murder charge.
If convicted, the athlete may be confronted with a possible sentence of life in prison without parole.
Lloyd, 27, was found dead on June 17 after being shot five times and left in an industrial park just a half-mile from Hernandez's house in North Attleborough, Mass. Prosecutors allege that Hernandez -- along with Carlos Ortiz and Ernest Wallace, both of whom have been indicted on lesser charges -- orchestrated Lloyd's murder after he was caught talking to people Hernandez didn't like.
Hernandez, who is also being investigated in a July 2012 drive-by double homicide in Boston, was subsequently taken into custody on June 26. He pleaded not guilty to the charges against him and has been held without bail ever since.
This article originally appeared on Usmagazine.com: Aaron Hernandez Indicted on First-Degree Murder Charge in Odin Lloyd Shooting"