Aaron Hernandez Trial: Witness Recalls He Was 'Stressed' Following Murder
The trial continued with more gripping testimony.
— -- Former New England Patriots star Aaron Hernandez appeared "stressed" in the days following the murder of a man he is now on trial for allegedly killing, the victim's girlfriend testified today.
"He seemed stressed," said Shaneah Jenkins, the sister of Hernandez’s fiancee and girlfriend of Odin Lloyd.
Hernandez, 25, is charged with killing Lloyd in June 2013. He has pleaded not guilty.
Jenkins did not elaborate on her statement.
When asked if she had told the grand jury that Hernandez had "appeared shaken up" after Lloyd was found dead, she replied, "I do not recall."
Jenkins also testified about occasions when Lloyd and Hernandez spent time together, but reiterated that they were not close friends.
On Tuesday, Jenkins had taken the stand, telling jurors that Hernandez had comforted her. That exchange had taken place when Jenkins went to Hernandez’s home, where her older sister Shayanna lived at the time with the former Patriots player.
Lloyd's girlfriend had testified last week that Lloyd and Hernandez were not close. Hernandez's lawyers have countered that the the men were friends and Hernandez had no reason to kill him.
Also Tuesday, the judge removed a juror from the case, saying she had previously spoken about evidence and expressed an interest in getting on the jury..
In this afternoon's session, Odin's mother, Ursula Ward, took the stand. Shortly before she testified, Ward took the stand to identify her son from an autopsy photo of his face.
Soon afterwards, Superior Court Judge Susan Garsh told Ward that she must retain control of her emotions and not cry. Ward had left the courtroom in tears during two previous occasions when seeing photos in court of her son's body.
Also charged with murder are Hernandez's friends Carlos Ortiz and Ernest Wallace. Prosecutors haven't said who pulled the trigger, but say Hernandez orchestrated the killing. They will be tried separately.
ESPN and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
