Potential Hernandez jurors asked if they are Patriots fans
FALL RIVER, Mass. - Potential jurors in the murder trial of Aaron Hernandez are being asked if they are fans of the New England Patriots, the defendant's former NFL team, reports CBS Boston.
About 1,100 potential jurors have been summoned to court in preparation for Hernandez's trial on charges that he killed Odin Lloyd in 2013. A 15-page juror questionnaire released on Tuesday includes several questions regarding the potential jurors' football watching habits.
"Are you a fan of the New England Patriots?," one question states. "If yes, for how long have you been a fan?"
Jurors are also asked about whether they have attended Patriots games and if Hernandez's past as a Patriots player will impair their ability to be fair and impartial: "Does the fact that Mr. Hernandez was a professional football player make you feel that he is more likely to be guilty of the charges in this case than an individual who did not play football professionally would be?"
The station reports that Patriots coach Bill Belichick and team owner Robert Kraft are on a list of more than 300 potential witnesses in the case, and juror candidates are being asked if they know any of them.
Prosecutors have reportedly expressed concerns about a jury possibly being impressed by Hernandez's athletic accomplishments and last week, a judge rejected a request by the prosecution to cover up a trophy case when the jury visits Heranandez's North Attleboro, Mass. home.
Judge Susan Garsh has reportedly banned all Patriots gear from the courtroom during Hernandez's trial. CBS Boston reports that on Monday one prospective juror in the case who realized she was wearing a Patriots jacket turned it inside out.
Jurors are also being asked if they have any tattoos, and if Hernandez "is more likely to be guilty of the charges in this case because he has tattoos than an individual without tattoos would be."
Another question asks the jurors if they've had any "personal experience with marijuana," and says there could be evidence presented in this case regarding possession or use of marijuana.