Former New England Patriot Aaron Hernandez used to make crowds cheer as a rising NFL star on the gridiron.
Now, both fans and foes will again be focused on Hernandez as he steps into the courtroom to go on trial on murder and weapons charges.
Jury selection begins Friday, as attorneys begin to whittle down a pool of more than 1,100 potential jurors to the small group that will decide whether Hernandez is guilty of murdering semipro football player Odin Lloyd. That pool is about 10 times larger than usual, largely because of concerns over finding an impartial jury. Attorneys will select 18 jurors, including six alternates.
Hernandez, 25, has pleaded not guilty. His friends Ernest Wallace and Carlos Ortiz have also been charged with murder in Lloyd’s death. They have pleaded not guilty and will be tried separately.
Aaron Hernandez’s downward spiral
So far, the state’s evidence against Hernandez, partially laid out in pretrial hearings, appears to be largely circumstantial.
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Will a show and tell help?
Prosecutors have permission from the judge to take jurors to see Hernandez’s home, as well as the shooting site. They will also be shown the location of some cell phone towers. Prosecutors suggest cell tower “pings” could connect Hernandez to the scene of Lloyd’s death.
Inside Hernandez’s home, jurors will see the layout and its multicamera video security system. Garsh ruled that a trophy case and Patriots jersey inside the home will remain in view. The prosecution had requested the memorabilia be covered up or removed so jurors couldn’t be swayed by Hernandez’s celebrity.
But first, a jury must be chosen. How hard will it be to find 18 people, including alternates, who can put aside whatever opinions they might have and view the evidence with open minds?
With Hernandez and his family watching, as well as the family and friends of victim Odin Lloyd, we’re about to find out.
CNN’s Michelle Rozsa and Laura Dolan contributed to this report.
