FILTHY SMILE OF EVIL
NFL slay susp’s grin sends vic’s ma fleeing
ACCUSED KILLER Aaron Hernandez flashed toothy grins and mouthed “I love you” to his mother during a court appearance that sent his victim’s anguished mother dashing from the room in tears.
The former New England Patriots star charged in Odin Lloyd’s murder appeared in a Fall River, Mass., courtroom on Monday confident, if not cocky, as his fiancée and mother watched from behind.
In contrast, Ursula Ward, whose 27-year-old son was found slain execution-style in an industrial park in June, broke down and had to leave the room at the mere sight of Hernandez.
Defense attorneys for the tight end went before a judge requesting a gag order against the media over allegations that leaks by the state could jeopardize Hernandez’s right to a fair trial. A trial date hasn’t been set.
Defense attorney Michael Fee blamed prosecutors for out-of-court statements reported in the media that he says have tarnished the explayer.
“Mr. Hernandez is entitled to a fair trial,” Fee told Judge Susan Garsh during the hour-long proceeding. “He is entitled to a jury panel that has not been poisoned by either false or sensational statements.”
The judge did not immedi- ately rule on the defense’s request fora formal gag order.
Hernandez, 24, has pleaded not guilty to murder in the June shooting death of Lloyd, a semiprofessional football player who was dating the sister of Hernandez’s fiancée.
The fiancée, Shayanna Jenkins, who appeared alongside Hernandez’s mother while dolled up in bright red lipstick, is facing a perjury charge related to her testimony before the grand jury that indicted Hernandez.
In a November filing, Hernandez’s attorneys said the state had “flouted” the rules of professional conduct and disregarded the judge’s admonition against prejudicial out-of-court commentary.
The defense said the prosecution orchestrated a “publicity stunt” in October, when authorities served Miami Dolphins player Michael Pouncey with a subpoena related to the case after his team played the Patriots at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough. Pouncey played football with Hernandez at the University of Florida.
The defense said serving the subpoena in that way and statements to the media attributed to law enforcement sources whipped up more publicity about the case.
The prosecution hasn’t commented on the subpoena.
In court Monday, Assistant District Attorney William McCauley denied the allegations, saying no leaks have come from the district attorney’s office or the investigative team.
“We’ve agreed to the rules of professional conduct, and we’re abiding by them,”he said.
McCauley accused the defense of misconduct for calling into question the state’s integrity, without evidence of who was responsible for any leaks. Prosecutors allege Hernandez killed Lloyd because he was upset with him for talking to some people at a nightclub with whom Hernandez had problems.