Aaron Hernandez: ‘Not Guilty’ To Witness Intimidation Charge [Photos]
Ex-New England Patriots player Aaron Hernandez was in a courtroom Thursday, May 21 to face charges of witness intimidation for trying to silence a witness to the 2012 double slaying of Daniel de Abreu and Safrio Furtado. Hernandez will soon be on trial for those murders as well.
WATCH LIVE: Aaron Hernandez in court to be arraigned on witness intimidation charges: http://t.co/VKfvgf7Get pic.twitter.com/JhrSMPddmH
— Boston 25 News (@boston25) May 21, 2015
Hernandez allegedly shot the victim in the face after after the man made a remark outside a Miami nightclub about the double murder case against Hernandez. He was indited on witness intimidation charges by a grand jury. According to a statement released by officials, “Hernandez allegedly shot him in the face on the morning of Feb. 13, 2013, and left him to die on the side of the road in Riviera Beach, Florida, after the witness made a remark about the homicide.” In that 2012 murder case, Hernandez has been charged with the killings of Daniel de Abreu and Safrio Furtado after Hernandez flew into a rage when one of the two victims caused the former football player to spill his drink.
Hernandez was charged last month with witness intimidation charges and pleaded not guilty Thursday. According to NECN, Hernandez was sporting a new tattoo on his neck and had slightly longer hair.
A good view of the new ink Aaron Hernandez picked up since he was sent to prison 1 month ago pic.twitter.com/1qiWJ0Syrb
— Ted Daniel (@TedDanielnews) May 21, 2015
Hernandez will next appear in court on June 4. The district attorney wants a trial for the witness intimidation charges set for November, but Hernandez’s defense attorney asked for a January hearing. The judge indicated that he wants the trial to begin this year and left it to the attorneys from each side to agree to a schedule. Hernandez does not need to appear in court on June 4.
Although the shooting victim hadn’t been identified by authorities, there was speculation that the intimidated man was Hernandez’s friend, Alexander Bradley, according to CBS Boston, since Bradley was the only witness to those murders. Bradley has brought a civil suit in Florida against his former friend, claiming that Hernandez shot him in the face when the two men argued after they left a Miami strip club. That case hasn’t gone to court yet.
As previously reported by the Inquisitr, Hernandez will already be spending the rest of his life behind bars for the 2012 murder of Odin Lloyd, who was dating his fiancee’s sister. Lloyd was found riddled with bullets close to Hernandez’ home, and evidence pointed to Hernandez as the culprit.
Hernandez hasn’t kept quiet in prison and was involved in a prison fight. According to CNN, Hernandez was acting as a lookout for two other inmates who allegedly have gang ties.
[Image credit: Jared Wickerham/Getty Images]
