The motive behind the double murder allegedly committed by Aaron Hernandez has been somewhat hazy up to this point. At the former NFL star’s arraignment on Monday, prosecutors stated that he killed two strangers over a spilled drink.
Aaron Hernandez pleads not guilty, allegedly committed murders over spilled drink
The former NFL star pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder stemming from the shooting of two men. The Suffolk County district attorney claims that Hernandez killed the men after having his drink spilled at a night club.
Hernandez pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder and five other charges related to the 2012 double murder of Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado in Boston.
The Suffolk County district attorney claims that a conflict began between Hernandez and the two victims when de Abreu spilled Hernandez’s drink in a night club, USA Today reports. Prosecutor Patrick Haggan said that de Abreu bumped into Hernandez on the edge of the dance floor, smiled at him and refused to apologize for the spilled beverage.
Hernandez allegedly told his friend that de Abreu had run into him on purpose. Haggan said that in the months leading up to the murders, Hernandez believed people “had been testing, trying or otherwise disrespecting him when he frequented nightclubs in the area.”
Prosecutors say Hernandez then followed the two men in his vehicle after seeing them leave a parking garage. Hernandez allegedly pulled up to them at a stop light, rolled down his window, told the men “Yo, what’s up now” and open fired with a revolver.
The DA gave evidence to suggest that Hernandez is guilty, including cell phone records that could put the former New England Patriots tight end at the scene of the murder before he traveled back to Connecticut that night. The morning after the shooting, Hernandez checked police reports and called a cousin to pick up his car, then rented another vehicle. Hernandez also rented a car after the alleged shooting of Odin Lloyd.
Reporters described the scene in the courtroom Wednesday as emotional:
Odin Lloyd's mother in court for hearing as is Hernandez fiancée Shayanna Jenkins. Lloyd was dating Jenkins's sister
— Jenny Wilson (@jennydwilson) May 28, 2014 Mother of Safiro Furtado weeps "I don't want to see him"
— Jenny Wilson (@jennydwilson) May 28, 2014 Judge denies request to remove Hernandez handcuffs "the sheriff has asked that they remain on"
— Jenny Wilson (@jennydwilson) May 28, 2014 "This is not supposed to be a spectacle. This is not supposed to be a sporting event" Hernandez lawyer says #patriots
— Jenny Wilson (@jennydwilson) May 28, 2014 Hernandez’s next hearing has been set for June 24. The judge at the arraignment ordered Hernandez to be held without bail.
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