Defense admits for first time Aaron Hernandez was at murder; jury begins deliberations



FALL RIVER, Mass. (AP) — Jurors in the murder trial of former New England Patriots player Aaron Hernandez began deliberating after hearing closing arguments Tuesday.

The 12-person jury is set to be back at work Wednesday as they decide whether Hernandez is guilty of murder in the June 2013 shooting death of Odin Lloyd.



Lloyd was killed in an industrial park less than a mile from Hernandez's home. Lloyd was dating the sister of Hernandez's fiancee.

During closing arguments, Hernandez lawyer James Sultan acknowledged for the first time that his client witnessed the killing that night, but didn't know what to do. He described him as a 23-year-old kid who was stunned by what he had just seen.

Sultan pinned the blame on two Hernandez friends.

The prosecutor said Hernandez planned the killing, shot Lloyd, then helped his friends flee.

His two friends have also pleaded not guilty to the murder and their trials will be held later.