Former Patriots star Hernandez indicted on murder
NEW YORK (AFP) - Aaron Hernandez was indicted Thursday on a first-degree murder charge in the death of a man whose bloodied body was found less than a mile from the former New England Patriot star's home.
A Massachusetts grand jury returned a six-count indictment against Hernandez, a clerk from the Fall River division of Bristol County Superior Court confirmed.
Hernandez, 23, was due to appear in Attleborough District Court later Thursday. He could face life in prison if convicted.
The multi-millionaire sports star pleaded not guilty to murder and weapons charges in June, and has been held without bail at a county jail since then.
His attorneys have argued that the case against him is circumstantial, but the grand jury found that the evidence presented by authorities warranted a trial.
Hernandez faces one count of first-degree murder and five weapons-related charges.
Odin Lloyd's body was found on June 17 in an industrial park. The 27-year-old semi-professional football player had been shot five times, including once as he lay on the ground, prosecutor William McCauley said in June.
McCauley said that Hernandez and two other associates had murdered Lloyd in an execution-style slaying because Hernandez was angry that his friend had spoken with people he "had troubles with."
A second man, Ernest Wallace, was also indicted Thursday as an accessory after the fact to first-degree murder.
Wallace had turned himself in in June when he learned authorities were looking for him.
