The fate of ex-New England Patriots star Aaron Hernandez rests in the hands of 12 jurors who must decide if he was involved in and committed the 2013 murder of Odin Lloyd.
The Associated Press reported that deliberations began after the closing statements wrapped on Tuesday afternoon.
PFT noted that District Attorney William McCauley told the jury that the evidence against the defendant was “strong” and it pointed to a murder plot that Hernandez orchestrated and ultimately carried out.
“He planned it,” McCauley said. “He came up with the pretext of getting Odin Lloyd to meet him that night.”
The defense, however, countered that their client should not be found guilty of such a crime.
"Did he make all the right decisions? No," said defense lawyer James Sultan. "He was a 23-year-old kid who witnessed something, a shocking killing, committed by someone he knew. He didn't know what to do, so he just put one foot in front of the other."
If jurors find him guilty of first-degree murder, the 25-year-old will spend the rest of his life behind bars. If he is convicted of second-degree murder he will be eligible for parole when he turns 40.