Former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez attempted to get his murder conviction reversed by the judge who oversaw the case earlier this year.
Unfortunately for Hernandez, Judge Susan Garsh decided against setting aside Hernandez’s conviction stemming from the murder of Odin Lloyd back in 2013.
In making her decision, Garsh had this to say (via the Hartford Courant):
“Considering the evidence in the light most favorable to the Commonwealth, the court finds that a rational jury could find that the Commonwealth proved every essential element of the crimes charged in counts 1 and 2 beyond a reasonable doubt.”
Hernandez’s defense team was arguing that, despite the jury’s verdict, the prosecution “utterly failed” to prove its case.
Garsh was also asked to reduce the first-degree murder conviction, at which point she declined.
It must be noted that this wasn’t an appeal. Instead, it was the defense team attempting to have the judge set aside the verdict—something that’s a rarity in these cases.
Hernandez still has the right to appeal his conviction.
Photo: USA Today Sports