Aaron Hernandez Jurors Fail To Reach Verdict On Fifth Day Of Deliberations
BOSTON (CBS) – Jurors did not reach a verdict on the fifth day of deliberations in the double murder trial of former Patriots star Aaron Hernandez.
Judge Jeffrey Locke dismissed jurors just after 4 p.m., which put the deliberations at about 32 hours.
Deliberations will resume around 9 a.m. Friday in Suffolk Superior Court. Jurors are scheduled for a half day of deliberations.
Hard to read this jury when they gather at start & end of each day. No obvious expressions after 5 days deliberating. #AaronHernandez #wbz
— Christina Hager (@HagerWBZ) April 13, 2017
Hernandez faces two counts of first-degree murder in the shootings of Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado in Boston's South End on July 16, 2012.
He's also charged with three counts of armed assault with intent to murder for allegedly shooting at three survivors; one count of assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon; one count of witness intimidation and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm.
When Hernandez was convicted in the 2013 murder of Odin Lloyd, jurors deliberated for 36 hours over seven days.
Jurors have not asked a question since Monday, when they inquired about whether they could find Hernandez indirectly guilty on the witness intimidation charge.
After jurors left the courtroom to deliberate, attorneys discussed with Judge Jeffrey Locke why Patriots head coach Bill Belichick did not testify despite being subpoenaed. Defense attorneys said Belichick's testimony was not determined to be critical, so it was not an issue when he did not respond.
The former tight end is charged with shooting the prosecution's star witness, Alexander Bradley, in the face. Prosecutors say it was an attempt to silence Bradley, who claimed in testimony last month to have seen Hernandez shoot the victims.
Hernandez is already facing life in prison for the murder of Lloyd.