Aaron Hernandez's Appeal of Murder Conviction Denied by Judge

Nearly three months after being found guilty of first-degree murder in the killing of Odin Lloyd, former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez's appeal to get the verdict overturned was thrown out Wednesday.  

According to John R. Ellement of the Boston Globe, Bristol Superior Court Judge E. Susan Garsh wrote in a ruling that the jury properly convicted Hernandez of murder:

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The court finds that a rational jury could find that the Commonwealth proved every essential element of the crimes. ... The jury's verdict that the defendant is guilty of murder in the first degree committed with extreme atrocity or cruelty and that he is guilty of unlawful possession of a firearm is supported by the evidence. ... The verdict rendered by the jury is consonant with justice.

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Hernandez's lawyers initially filed an appeal in May, and they argued that the decision was not based solely on the evidence presented, per the Associated Press and ESPN.com: "Rather, improper speculation, conjecture and guesswork was required to reach a guilty verdict."

Hernandez was originally arrested for his suspected involvement in Lloyd's death just over two years ago. He was subsequently released by the Pats the same day.

While Hernandez will continue to serve a life sentence in prison, the case is still not over as his lawyers have also requested an investigation into an anonymous tip that a juror lied in order to be part of the proceedings, according to Jenny Wilson and Edmund H. Mahony of the Hartford Courant.

The former University of Florida standout is also awaiting charges and a potential trial in the 2012 shooting deaths of Safiro Furtado and Daniel de Abreu as well as a witness intimidation case for allegedly shooting his former friend Alexander Bradley in the face in 2013.

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