Spill a Drink on Aaron Hernadez and He WILL (Probably, Allegedly) Murder You
As if the picture that has emerged of former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez since he was arrested for the murder of an acquaintance last year wasn’t already scary enough, details emerged during his latest arraignment on Wednesday—this one for double murder—that picture became even more chilling.
Which is actually kind of sickly impressive, given what was known about Hernandez’s alleged crimes prior to the hearing. Boston Herald reporter Antonio Planas live tweeted the court proceedings:
Twitter: @AntonioPlanas1
Twitter: @AntonioPlanas1
Twitter: @AntonioPlanas1
Twitter: @AntonioPlanas1
Twitter: @AntonioPlanas1
Twitter: @AntonioPlanas1
According to the prosecution, Hernandez was enraged over a spilled drink and they have video surveillance of him angrily pacing outside the club prior to the murders. Or “alleged murder,†as NBC 10’s Adam Bagni referred to the incident on Twitter.
Twitter: @NBC10_Adam
Although, that’s kind of weird. It’s hard to imagine Hernandez’s defense hinging on whether or not a double murder actually took place, because it seems pretty clear that it did. Then again, considering the mountains they’ve got to climb, perhaps it’s best not to cede anything.
One thing that seems clear from all accounts is that the victims of the drive-by (alleged?) murders, Daniel Abreu and Safiro Furtado, likely never saw it coming. The prosecutor says they were unaware that Hernandez was angry and/or following them.
Charles Rankin, one of Hernandez’s lawyers, attempted to dismiss the proceedings as media spectacle which has served to do nothing but unfairly taint the public against his client. Courtroom theatrics are required coursework for defense attorneys in law school—it’s an encouraged elective for everyone else.
Twitter: @AntonioPlanas1
Gary Wilson, the presiding judge in the case, wasn’t having any of it. He was clear that he believed the proceedings to be speedy and fair to Hernandez, in addition to being open to the media.
Wilson’s pushback against Hernandez’s legal team was particularly heartening, given the level of prosecutorial boobery that has routinely been on display during hearings for the Lloyd murder.
Let’s hope the judge remains committed and diligent in this arena, because fair trials of Hernandez absolutely have to be safeguarded at all costs. Not only because ‘innocent until proven guilty’ is one of the building blocks of our democracy, but also because this guy is absolutely terrifying.
Imagine Hernandez gets off on some technicality and down the road you find yourself standing next to him at a bar. And then imagine you accidentally spill your drink on him.
Yikes.
