Judge says no to gag order
Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Locke refuses to issue a gag order in the matter of the alleged murder of two people by Hernandez in 2012. The judge said he sees no sign that Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley’s office had violated ethical rules for prosecutors by leaking information .
The Court is satisfied that the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office is aware of and operates consistent with the restrictions imposed by the Massachusetts Rules of Professional Conduct, rendering a detailed order regarding extrajudicial statements unnecessary at this time.
$5 million for victims’ families
A civil court judge allows the families of murder victims Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado to freeze up to $5 million of Hernandez’s mansion’s worth. He denied their bid for a court order that would block the Patriots from paying their former tight end a $3.3 million signing bonus. The attorneys for the family say:
That’s one skirmish. We’re going to go forward. All we can do is pursue money. There’s no way $3.3 million will bring back these two men, so this is what the system leaves us with.
Guilty of first-degree murder
A Massachusetts Grand Jury convicts Hernandez, with first degree murder in the killing of Lloyd in June 2013. Hernandez’s lawyer acknowledged during closing arguments that he was there when Lloyd was killed. But he pinned the shooting on Hernandez’s two friends, saying his client was a 23-year-old kid who didn’t know what to do. He is also found guilty on firearm and ammunition charges. The conviction carries a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Judge: Tipster not credible
A Fall River judge declares an anonymous tipster “not credible” in her claims that a juror discussed the Hernandez murder case at a party, dismissing defense motions to examine her claims.