Aaron Hernandez, former New England Patriots star has been formally sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole after he was found guilty of first-degree murder in a deadly, late-night shooting. This is a case of a fall from grace to grass for an athlete who once had a $40 million contract and an outstanding career ahead of him.
Hernandez was convicted for involvement in the murder of Odin Lloyd, a 27-year-old landscaper and amateur weekend football player, who at the time of his death was dating Hernandez’s fiancee’s sister. The former professional football was also found guilty on firearm and ammunition charges.
Hernandez’s mother, Terri, and his fiancee, Shayanna Jenkins, cried and gasped when they heard the verdict. Jenkins reportedly wept on his mother’s shoulder. Hernandez later said to them: “Be strong. Be strong.”
According to CNN, the prosecutor said of the ex-NFL star:
“Aaron Hernandez may have been a well known New England patriots football player. However in the end, the jury found that he was just a man who committed a brutal murder.
“The fact that he was a professional athlete meant nothing in the end,” Quinn said. “He is a citizen who was held accountable by the jury for his depraved conduct.”
