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Aaron Hernandez murder trial gets off to bumpy start

By Aileen Graef
The trial of former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez got to a slow start Thursday after one juror was late and another replaced. UPI/Matthew Healey
The trial of former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez got to a slow start Thursday after one juror was late and another replaced. UPI/Matthew Healey | License Photo

BOSTON, Jan. 29 (UPI) -- Former New England Patriots football player Aaron Hernandez's murder trial got off to a rough start with one late juror and one replaced.

The trial began late Thursday morning with a swearing-in of the jury and opening statements.

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Hernandez is charged with killing Odin Lloyd, 27, in 2013. Lloyd was the boyfriend of Hernandez's fiancée's sister.

State prosecutor Patrick Bomberg opened his statement explaining how the former tight end and his two accomplices Ernest Wallace and Carlos Ortiz killed Lloyd and "took evidence with them and tried to, and in some cases were successful in destroying evidence."

The judge disallowed several pieces of evidence including a text message from Lloyd to his sister before his death, leaving the prosecution with a largely circumstantial case.

"The prosecution will try to dazzle and distract you," said defense attorney Michael Fee. "They will go on and on."

Hernandez has also been charged in a separate case with shooting two men in 2012 after they allegedly spilled a drink on him in a Boston night club.

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The judge also disallowed mention of this case in the trial.

Hernandez has pleaded not guilty in both cases.

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