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Britt McHenry also insulted the worker’s education and job in the minute-long rant.
The jury that convicted the former New England Patriots star of first-degree murder Wednesday speaks out after the verdict. It was the “hardest thing I’d ever done in my life, by far.”
Aaron Hernandez listens as the guilty verdict is read during his murder trial Wednesday.
Dominick Reuter / AP
FALL RIVER, Massachusetts — A two-month trial and seven days of deliberations led to a jury of twelve people unanimously finding Aaron Hernandez guilty of first-degree murder, on the basis of "extreme cruelty or atrocity."
After forewoman Malessa Strachan delivered the verdict, Judge E. Susan Garsh addressed the jury privately and thanked them for their service.
Garsh told jurors that Hernandez is set to stand trial in Boston as the defendant in a double homicide case, along with other assault allegations. The judge said Hernandez allegedly shot his former friend, Alexander Bradley, between the eyes in Florida. Bradley, who recently testified against him, has a noticeable scar from the shooting.
Hearing about other allegations of murder — or attempted murder — by Hernandez reassured the jury they had "done the right thing" by returning a first-degree murder verdict.
Hernandez was immediately sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Typical courthouse protocol is to disallow reporters from speaking with released jurors until they are outside the courthouse, but because of the high-profile nature of this case, the Bristol County District Attorney's office made special arrangements to mutually benefit the jurors and the story-hungry media.
The twelve jurors and three alternates were brought into the jury selection room and stood before the media.
Dominick Reuter / AP
They joked that they had agreed to the arrangement because they hoped it would reduce the likelihood of media "showing up at [their] homes."
Strachan immediately read a short prepared statement:
"To the family of Odin Lloyd, we would like to say we know this verdict will not bring him back, but we do hope this will help you find peace and bring you some closure. We would also like to thank everyone in advance for respecting our privacy."
The jurors refused to speak about any conversations that might have occurred during their 35 hours of deliberations. The only explanation given for the lengthy deliberation period was the seriousness of the crimes with which Hernandez was charged, and the sentencing implications.
Jurors said they were "not prepared" for the extreme emotional reaction that rippled through the crowded courtroom as soon as the murder conviction was announced.
Announcing the verdict was the "hardest thing I'd ever done in my life, by far," said Strachan. She said that if she could speak with Hernandez, who stared the jurors down upon every entrance and exit from the courtroom, she'd have "nothing" to say to him.
During closing statements, Hernandez's attorney James Sultan admitted that his client was likely at the scene of the crime with two other friends, but claimed the Commonwealth had not proven it was anything more than a wrong place, wrong time situation.
The jurors called that decision "shocking," but would not discuss how heavily it weighed on their decision.
Later that day, Bristol County District Attorney Tom Quinn told reporters that Sultan's admission was not much more than a "strategic decision" by his team's opponents.
During the extensive and often times dramatic jury selection, each potential juror was brought to the front of the courtroom to be questioned about his or her ability to be fair and unbiased. On Wednesday, jurors confessed it was "awkward and uncomfortable" to have Hernandez huddled behind them while the judge questioned them.
However, Sean Traverse assured the room that he understood his role was to avoid judging Hernandez until his team was sent for deliberations.
The former NFL star faces fifteen total criminal charges in the state of Massachusetts. How his lawyers will proceed with his cases depends on one murder charge, on which a jury has been deliberating for five days.
Steven Senne / AP
A Massachusetts jury's ultimate decision in Aaron's Hernandez's trial – Monday is their fifth day of deliberating over one murder and two weapons charges – will likely have an impact on the twelve other criminal accusations still outstanding against the former NFL star.
The trials are going to act as a legal "series of dominos," Daniel Medwed, a criminal law professor at Northeastern University, told BuzzFeed News.
Hernandez is currently on trial in Bristol County for the murder of his friend, semi-pro football player Odin Lloyd, along with a single gun and ammunition charge each. If the jury finds he was guilty of the murder charge, then they will have to decide if it was first or second-degree murder.
If Hernandez gets first-degree murder – which is contingent on premeditation or extreme cruelty and carries a life sentence without parole – he will likely resolve the remaining 12 charges by pleading out, Medwed said. He added that this approach would likely be favored by Hernandez's lawyers and prosecutors. One of Hernandez's lawyers, Charles Rankin, declined to comment for this article.
If Hernandez gets second-degree murder – or anything less – he could be eligible for parole in fifteen years – "then it becomes tricky," Medwed said. "His other charges will affect his parole eligibility and also his likelihood of success on parole."
That means Hernandez's attorneys will likely decide how to proceed with his Boston case based on what is more likely to protect his eligibility and likelihood of receiving parole, Medwed said.
(Another option is a plea deal. But Gregg Miliote, the director of communications for the Bristol County district attorney's office told BuzzFeed News that Hernandez and his attorneys did not make any attempt to reach a deal for his current trial.)
In Suffolk County (Boston):
Double homicide
Three counts of armed assault with intent to murder
Assault and battery by means of dangerous weapon
Unlawful possession of a firearm
In Bristol County:
Possession of high capacity feeding device
Unlawful possession of a firearm
Unlawful possession of ammunition
Assault and battery of an inmate
Criminal threats against corrections officer
Hernandez is also a defendant in four civil suits in Massachusetts and Florida.
Cj Gunther / AP
Prominent sports agent David Cornwell says media “only told half the story” of rape accusations against Winston.
Jameis Winston at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis in February 2015.
David J. Phillip / AP
PHILADELPHIA — The attorney for former Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston repeatedly used the name of a woman who has accused Winston of sexual assault while criticizing her at a sports law symposium on Friday.
"She lied and said Jameis hit her on the back of the head. She lied and said she had been drugged," said David Cornwell, David Cornwell, a prominent sports agent who's represented Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun.
"The media only reported half the story," Cornwell said. "It's the first time we've seen the vilification of an athlete drop into amateur ranks at this level."
Cornwell made those remarks at the Jeffery S. Moorad Sports Law Journal symposium at Villanova University's law school, which included several panels featuring NCAA's executive vice president Oliver Luck, former NFL head coach Dick Vermeil, and former NFL player Warrick Dunn. Cornwell held court on stage by himself for more than a half-hour, criticizing what called "biased coverage" of the rape accusations made against Winston in 2013. No charges were ultimately filed against Winston, though the Tallahassee Police Department and Florida State University were criticized for their handling of the case.
"Her name had been known for months and reported," said Cornwell when asked why he insisted on using her name publicly. "And it's a media policy. How can the media dictate to me how I will defend my client?"
Media organizations typically refrain from identifying potential victims of sexual assault.
Little more than a month before the NFL draft, Cornwell said he wasn't at all concerned that his comments would affect Winston's status in the draft. It's widely thought Winston will be go No. 1 in the draft to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The moderator for his panel asked if Winston, the 2013 Heisman Trophy Winner, would go No. 1 in the draft on April 30.
Cornwell paused for a second, then smiled.
"Book it," he said, setting off a few chuckles in the audience.
In November, over 10,000 people attended Hill’s first college game.
Tom Uhlman / AP
Andy Lyons / Getty Images
Andy Lyons / Getty Images
Tom Uhlman / AP
The jury began deliberations Tuesday afternoon.
John Tlumacki / AP
The twelve jurors who will soon determine whether former New England Patriots star Aaron Hernandez should be sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Odin Lloyd, or if he would walk free.
Judge E. Susan Garsh sent the jury to deliberate Tuesday at 3 p.m. ET, after hearing nine weeks of testimony from 133 witnesses.
Deliberations are expected to last 3-5 days with the jurors in meeting from 9 a.m. ET to 4:30 p.m. ET.
Hernandez faces three charges: Murder, unlawful possession of a firearm, and unlawful possession of ammunition. The verdict slip for the murder charge will offer three choices: Not guilty; first degree murder; and second degree murder.
To return a first degree conviction, the jury has to believe the murder was either premeditated or executed with extreme cruelty. A first degree murder conviction in Massachusetts carries an automatic life sentence. A conviction on second degree murder also begets a life sentence, but with the possibility for parole after fifteen years.
The gun relevant to the possession charge was never recovered. If the jury convicts him on that count, they will have to do so based on surveillance footage. If convicted, Hernandez could receive a two-and-a-half to five-year sentence. The ammunition charge could lead to a maximum two-year sentence – most of which has already been served – or could be resolved by paying a maximum $500 fine.
When the jury left the courtroom to deliberate on Tuesday, Hernandez and his counsel remained in the courtroom. His fianceé Shayanna Jenkins stayed, and she and Hernandez were allowed to chat and joke with a short wall between them.
She appeared to be telling him stories about their daughter, Avielle. Hernandez joked with the court officer, who is a Grammy-winning R&B singer. "Can you get me a copy of your CD," Hernandez joked.
Following the conclusion of this trial, Hernandez will go to Boston to stand trial as the defendant in a 2012 double homicide trial.
