BOSTON (WHDH) - The jury in the Aaron Hernandez double-murder trial were sent home Monday as the judge presiding over the case said he needed time to consider new defense motions to dismiss the case.
In an unexpected development, jurors were sent home for the day after the defense claimed to have uncovered new evidence that could derail the case and help their client.
The defense argued that a street sweeper saw someone besides Hernandez at the scene of the crime in the early morning hours of July 16, 2012.
Hernandez is accused of gunning down Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado outside a Boston nightclub after he became enraged by “a simple bump, a spilled drink and an exchange of looks.”
According to Hernandez’s attorneys, the street sweeper saw an SUV fleeing the scene with a woman hanging out of the sunroof. They said the woman took video at the scene.
Defense attorneys filed three motions to dismiss the case. Judge Jeffrey Locke said he would like to examine the motions and question the street sweeper without the jury present.
Locke expects the jury to return Tuesday. It’s not clear when a ruling on the motions will come.
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