Testimony in Hernandez murder trial turns to alleged gun running

March 23, 2015 6:06 pm

By: Melissa Randall
mrandall@abc6.com
@MRandallABC6

On day 32 of the Aaron Hernandez murder trial prosecutors switched gears and turned their focus on the alleged gun running operation tied to the case. The State granted immunity to one witness in exchange for his testimony about one of the guns found in the woods near the murder scene. In addition to murder the former Patriot Star was also indicted on various weapons charges. Prosecutors zeroed in on where those alleged guns came from.

After being granted immunity Gion Jackson took the stand. Two months before Odin Lloyd was killed the Florida man bought a .22 caliber Jiminez gun in his home state. Investigators would later find a gun with a matching serial number in the woods near the murder scene. The actual murder weapon, a .45 caliber gun, was never found.

“When did you first learn your weapon was gone?” prosecutors asked the witness. “When AFT agents informed me it was at a murder scene,” testified Jackson.

Jackson gave up that alleged gun runner Oscar Hernandez, who has no relation to Aaron Hernandez, was with him when he bought the weapon at a hardware store. He also testified that Oscar borrowed his car. The .22 was stored in the trunk. Jackson says the last time he saw it was the day he bought the gun and put it in there.

A Florida mechanic also testified Monday that earlier that month he sold a Toyota to “Papoo” AKA Oscar Hernandez. That ’98 Camry would end up in the former football player’s North Attleboro garage.

“What did he say he intended to do with the car?” asked prosecutors. “He bought it for a friend in college,” testified Kumar Singh.

Prosecutors allege Oscar actually had it shipped to Massachusetts with guns inside. His mother, Gladwyn Skeete-Hernandez, also testifying about a $15,000 deposit Aaron Hernandez put in her account. She took it out $5,000 at a time.

“What did you do with the $5,000 cash?” asked prosecutors. “I gave it to Oscar,” she testified.

Prosecutors poked holes in the motive behind the large deposit. They insinuated the money was meant to help out a friend who ran through his inheritance.