Who's who in the murder trial of former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
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Who's who in the murder trial of former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez

This panel of file photos shows some of those who are connected to the murder trial of former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez; top row from left: Aaron Hernandez; and co-defendants to be tried separately Ernest Wallace and Carlos Ortiz. Bottom row, from left; Shayanna Jenkins, Hernandez’s fiancee charged with perjury; Tanya Singleton, Hernandez's cousin, charged with conspiracy to commit accessory after the fact. Jury selection begins for Hernandez's murder trial on Friday, Jan. 9, 2015, in Fall River, Mass. (AP Photo/File)

A list of who's who in the murder trial of former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez:

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AARON HERNANDEZ

The 25-year-old was a star player with the Patriots with a $40 million contract when, prosecutors say, he killed Odin Lloyd. Hernandez has pleaded not guilty. He has also pleaded not guilty to murder charges stemming from a 2012 double slaying in Boston, where he is accused of killing two men after someone accidentally spilled a drink on him at a nightclub. No trial date is set in the Boston case, and prosecutors in the Lloyd case will not be allowed to tell the jury about the double slaying.

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ODIN LLOYD

Lloyd, 27, was a semipro football player for the Boston Bandits and was dating the sister of Hernandez's fiancee, Shayanna Jenkins. He was found shot to death June 17, 2013, in an industrial park near Hernandez's home in North Attleborough. Investigators believe he was killed with a .45-calibre Glock, which has never been found.

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ERNEST WALLACE and CARLOS ORTIZ

Both have pleaded not guilty to murder. They hail from Hernandez's hometown of Bristol, Connecticut. Prosecutors say they and Hernandez picked up Lloyd shortly before he was killed. They are not listed as witnesses by the prosecution but could be called by the defence. They will be tried separately.

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SHAYANNA JENKINS

Jenkins, Hernandez's fiancee, is charged with perjury and has pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors have said she lied dozens of times to a grand jury investigating Lloyd's killing. Jenkins is listed on the prosecution's list of potential witnesses, and this week, prosecutors petitioned the court to grant her immunity for the murder trial. The matter was sealed, and the outcome of the request was not clear. Jenkins and Hernandez have a 2-year-old daughter together.

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TANYA SINGLETON

Singleton, Hernandez's cousin, has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit accessory after the fact. Singleton, of Bristol, pleaded guilty last year to criminal contempt for failing to testify before the grand jury, and she was given probation. A judge spared her prison time because she's being treated for advanced cancer.

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JENNIFER MERCADO

Mercado, Hernandez's cousin, lives with her sister, Singleton, in Bristol. Mercado is listed as a potential witness for the prosecution. She was granted immunity by a judge this week following a petition by prosecutors, which means she could be compelled to testify. It was not clear what testimony she could offer.

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ROBERT KRAFT and BILL BELICHICK

New England Patriots owner and coach. Both are listed as a potential witness for the prosecution. It's not yet known whether either will be called.

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BRISTOL COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE SUSAN GARSH

Garsh has been a judge for more than 20 years after being appointed to the bench in 1993 by Republican Gov. Bill Weld. Prosecutors had asked Garsh to step aside from the case because they said she had an antagonistic relationship with prosecutor William McCauley. Garsh declined.

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Defence TEAM

James Sultan and Charles Rankin lead the firm Rankin and Sultan and are highly respected criminal defence lawyers. Michael Fee, a former federal prosecutor, is a well-known defence attorney mostly focusing on white-collar crime and business matters.

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PROSECUTORS

Assistant district attorneys William McCauley, Patrick Bomberg and Roger Michel are the lead prosecutors on the case.

News from © The Associated Press, 2015
The Associated Press

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