The smoking lamp is lit in the Aaron Hernandez trial
No news was no news on Monday from the Aaron Hernandez trial, with the jury not reaching a verdict in the fifth full day of deliberations.
Actually, there was some news. The jurors want smoke breaks. And they’ll get smoke breaks. Which could help keep any tensions under control.
The Aaron Hernandez trial continues to move at a snail's pace. 27 hours of deliberation has not moved the jury any closer to rendering a decision on the fate of the former New England Patriots' tight end. Hernandez faces first- and second-degree murder charges in connection with the death of Odin Lloyd, along with a firearms and ammunition charges.
The only charge that is not on the table appears to the charge of perjury. The defense team did not allow Aaron Hernandez to testify on his behalf. That would have been a dream scenario for the prosecution to question Aaron Hernandez on his whereabouts the night of the murder.
The fear for the prosecution is that the longer the jury takes in the legal process, the greater the likelihood of a hung jury. It would be a shame to start the whole trial over. “What happens if we can’t make a decision?” Judge Susan Garsh will be prepared with that answer. So far, she has had all the answers during the trial. Her request of Ursala Ward, Odin Lloyd's mother, to "not cry" on the witness stand went as she requested. She forbid New England Patriots' gear from being worn in the courthouse, and barred a WHDH-TV cameraman from the proceedings after two jurors complained he was seen driving a company car by a remote parking lot they use.
"Smoke-um if you've got them". The normal smoke break time allowed in the military is 10 minutes. I say take all the time you need, and get it right the first time.
Paul Murphy is a freelance writer from New Hampshire. .
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