Still no verdict in the Hernandez Murder trial

April 13, 2015 7:01 pm

By: Melissa Randall
mrandall@abc6
@MRandallABC6

Day five of deliberations in the Aaron Hernandez murder trial ended without a verdict. Jurors went home after considering whether to convict the former Patriot for a total of 27 hours now.

Monday was mostly quiet. The jury did request permission to take breaks for smoking, which the judge granted, reminding them they cannot deliberate without all 12 jury members present. Frank Camera, a criminal defense attorney who has been following the case closely, says people shouldn’t read too much into that.

The 12 member jury has a big decision to make. They deliberate in private, s there is no sure way to tell when they are close. Camera says there are outward signs verdict watchers can look for.

“I suppose you could speculate and say that if they believe they are close to rendering a verdict and they will do it in a timely fashion then they will be dressed nicely because they believe that they will be interviewed or have some sort of TV exposure,” explained camera.

The jury is considering whether to convict the former patriot of murder in the 2013 death of Odin Lloyd. The 27–year–old was dating the sister of Hernandez’s fiancée. The jury will have to decide if the ex NFL player is not guilty, guilty of first degree murder or guilty of second degree murder. A hung jury is always possible.

“If there is one person that holds out then that’s not unanimous and then that would have the potential to be a deadlocked jury,” said Camera.

Camera adds that a deadlocked jury is not likely, adding that if they come to an impasse the judge could tell them to take some more time and try again.

The trial is not in jeopardy just yet, but deliberations have gone longer than some other high profile cases. Jurors in the federal trial of Boston bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev came back in 2 days. Jurors found notorious mobster Whitey Bulger guilty in 5 days, and former football player O.J. Simpson was acquitted in just 5 hours.

“We are in a society here that wants immediate gratification. We want a verdict very quickly because it’s been a long trial, but that’s just not the way the system works,” said Camera.

Deliberations will resume Tuesday for day 6.