Aaron Hernandez's Lawyer Asks To Question Anonymous Tipster
FALL RIVER, Mass. (AP) — A lawyer for former New England Patriots player Aaron Hernandez is asking a judge to let him question under oath a woman who called him anonymously and raised questions about a member of the jury that convicted his client of murder.
James Sultan told the judge Monday that he had identified the tipster who told him a juror may have been "untruthful" during jury selection.
Her name is redacted in filings the court released Tuesday, but Sultan said she has had "extensive personal contact" with Hernandez since he was arrested in June 2013 for the killing of Odin Lloyd. Hernandez has been behind bars since then and in April was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole.
"That contact is clearly relevant to this individual's credibility. Nevertheless, there is reason to believe that this individual likely possesses information relevant to whether a juror was exposed to prejudicial, extrinsic information," Sultan wrote.
Sultan previously told the judge that the tipster called him several times in the days after Hernandez was convicted, telling him that she recognized the juror from TV and that the juror had been present for a discussion about a Boston double-murder case that Hernandez is also charged in. Mention of those killings was barred at trial. Hernandez has pleaded not guilty in those slayings.
The tipster also told Sultan that she heard someone else say the juror had wanted to be seated on the Hernandez panel, Sultan said previously. He told the judge in his filing Monday that the tipster may also be able to identify other potential witnesses.
Prosecutors have until Friday to respond to Sultan's request.
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