Hernandez ink may tell a deadly tale
Artist says gun images ‘common’
Aaron Hernandez’s controversial tattoos were on display for jurors for the first time yesterday as prosecutors sought to link the former Patriots star to a 2012 double murder with body ink they say amount to mementos of the crime.
California tattoo artist David Nelson, 41, described for the jury tattoos he gave to Hernandez in late 2013 showing a six-shot revolver cylinder loaded with five bullets beneath the words “God Forgives” written backwards, so it could be read in a mirror. Nelson said he also tattooed two semiautomatic muzzles and a shell casing on the same arm, as well as “Blood, Sweat and Tears” across Hernandez’s right hand.
“Just like any other client, he came in, told me what he wanted and where he wanted it,” Nelson testified. “He wanted a front view of a pistol, like it’s pointing at you, the cylinder part of the revolver that holds the bullets and some words on his hands … ‘ blood, sweat, and tears.’ ”
Hernandez has pleaded not guilty to killing Daniel de Abreu, 29, and Safiro Furtado, 28, with five bullets fired from a Smith & Wesson .38 Special revolver in the early morning hours of July 16, 2012. Prosecutors have sought to link Hernandez to the crime through the tattoo of a similar weapon, which he received eight months after the slayings.
Lead defense attorney Jose Baez pressed Nelson on how common gun tattoos are.
“Pretty common,” Nelson said.
Baez pointed out notable celebs with firearm-related ink, including Angelina Jolie, Zayn Malik of One Direction and Rihanna.
“Did you tattoo the gun onto Rihanna’s body?” Baez asked.
Nelson said he had not, and prosecutors objected.
“Overruled,” Judge Jeffrey A. Locke deadpanned. “Rihanna’s body may stand.”
Nelson told the jury Hernandez visited his Hermosa Beach, Calif., tattoo shop twice, including once with his fiancee Shayanna Jenkins, who sat in the third row of the Suffolk Superior courtroom yesterday. Nelson said the decision about what to depict was solely Hernandez’s.
Nelson was questioned two days ago without the jury present, after which Locke said his testimony could be admitted over the objections of the defense.
Hernandez is already serving a life sentence after being convicted in the 2013 murder of Odin L. Lloyd. The trial is set to resume Monday morning for the 13th day of prosecution testimony.