Aaron Hernandez Trial for 2012 Double Homicide Delayed Due to Odin Lloyd Case

A Suffolk County (Massachusetts) judge granted a motion to delay the upcoming double murder trial of former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez, citing the close proximity of Hernandez's other case related to the slaying of Odin Lloyd.     

"At the defense’s request, Judge Jeffrey Locke agreed to continue the previously scheduled Suffolk County trial date but declined to set a new date at this time,'' a spokesperson for the Suffolk County District Attorney's office said Tuesday, per David Steele of Sporting News.

Hernandez had originally been scheduled to stand trial for the double murder of two Boston-area men, Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado, on May 28. De Abreu and Furtado were the victims of a drive-by shooting in 2012, and Hernandez has been charged with double murder for his alleged involvement.

In filing their motion, Hernandez's attorneys said it would not be possible to build an adequate case in both trials with their dates being so close together. Hernandez's trial for the murder of Odin Lloyd will begin on Jan. 9. With the prosecution in the Lloyd case preparing to call numerous witnesses to the stand, Hernandez's attorneys said it would not be possible to devote enough time to the case in Suffolk. 

Jared Wickerham/Getty Images

“If [prosecutors] really call all those people, we’re going to be in Bristol for two or three months,” Charles Rankin, one of Hernandez’s lawyers, said Tuesday, per Maria Cramer of The Boston Globe. “That would make it impossible for us to be ready by May 28.”

Hernandez is charged with the first-degree murder of Lloyd, a semipro football player who was dating the sister of Hernandez's fiancee. The former Pro Bowler is alleged to have murdered De Abreu and Furtado following an incident at a nightclub, following and then opening fire on their vehicle.

Hernandez has pleaded not guilty to all charges stemming from the murders.  

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