Jury finds Aaron Hernandez guilty of first-degree murder, sentenced to life in prison without parole

The jury has reached a verdict in the murder trial of former New England Patriots star tight end Aaron Hernandez.

BY KTAR.COM

Apr 15, 2015, 2:17 PM Updated: 3:44 pm

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A Massachusetts jury has found former New England Patriots star Aaron Hernandez guilty of first-degree murder Wednesday.

Hernandez, 25, was sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole in the killing of Odin Lloyd in June 2013.

Lloyd was dating the
sister of Hernandez’s fiancee. He was shot six times in an industrial park near Hernandez’s home.

Hernadez was also found guilty of weapons charges.

The 12-person jury had been deliberating since April 7.

BREAKING: #AaronHernandez GUILTY on all 3 counts, including 1st Degree murder #wcvb pic.twitter.com/DvScTEiftQ

— russnelligan (@russnelligan) April 15, 2015

Aaron Hernandez faces a mandatory sentence of life without parole. http://t.co/8CjBB9mLQ7 pic.twitter.com/sYDOpdj5aP

— The Boston Globe (@BostonGlobe) April 15, 2015

Lawyers and spectators assembled in the courtroom before the jury was
brought in.

Hernandez’s lawyer acknowledged during closing arguments that his client was present when
Lloyd was killed but that Hernandez’s two friends were responsible.

Prosecutors argued that Hernandez, who was signed to an NFL contract worth $40 million, planned the killing, then helped cover it up.

Hernandez had jumped to the top of the police’s suspect list soon after the June 17, 2013 shooting. Police found a key to a car that Hernandez had rented in Lloyd’s pocket.

The Pro Bowl tight end was arrested and the Patriots cut him shortly thereafter.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.