The suspected murder weapon in the double murder trial of former New England Patriots star Aaron Hernandez was shown to jurors on Monday after the trial's judge denied a request for a mistrial after reviewing a video reflecting witness testimony.
The gun was recovered a year after Hernandez allegedly killed two men, and prosecutors started to explain how they connected it to the ex-NFL tight end.
Massachusetts State Police Trooper Paul Aten said troopers found the gun in the trunk of a car while responding to a crash.
"There was a revolver, as well as three rounds of ammunition," he said.
Prosecutors said the revolver was later connected to the bullets from the murders, arguing the driver, an unnamed woman, who had the gun can be connected to Hernandez.
However, Hernandez defense argued there wasn't enough ballistic evidence to support the prosecution's claims.
Hernandez is accused of gunning down two men, Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado, at a Boston stoplight in July 2012 after one of the victims allegedly bumped into him, spilling his drink. Hernandez has pleaded not guilty.
Earlier Monday, Judge Jeffrey Locke reviewed video that focused on testimony from last week, where witness Raychides Sanches said the suspect "looked like him," apparently referring to Hernandez.
Judge Locke requested to see the part of the video where Sanches gave a "knowing look and head nod towards the defendant" when he stated "it looked like him," and after reviewing the footage, he denied the defense's motion.
On Friday, Judge Locke heard from both the prosecution and defense regarding Thursday's testimony by Sanches, who survived the shooting that left his friends de Abreu and Furtado dead.
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Defense attorney Ronald Sullivan said, "Mr. Sanches testified that the alleged shooter was – quote – 'white just like him' where 'him' was followed by a knowing look and a head nod in the direction of Mr. Hernandez."
The defense team argued Sanches was not allowed to make that identification of Hernandez in court, which led to this fiery exchange.
Suffolk Assistant District Attorney Patrick Haggan said, "This is not only inaccurate, it’s disingenuous and quite frankly offensive."
Sullivan interrupted, “I find it offensive that Mr. Haggan now stands here and tries to articulate what this witness said and what this witness would say as the truth, it wasn’t the truth, it was a lie!”
With the jury present, Judge Locke made it clear.
“Mr. Sanches did not identify anyone as the perpetrator of the crime,” said Judge Locke to the jury.
The defense claimed prosecutors elicited testimony from Sanches that was not allowed. Sanches testified Wednesday that he was riding in a vehicle with the two victims when they were shot and killed.
The defense team claimed Sanches' description was tainted by media coverage of the Odin Lloyd murder trial. Hernandez is already serving a life sentence without parole after he was convicted two years ago of killing Lloyd in 2013.
Prosecutors said Friday that the defense allegations are "not only inaccurate but disingenuous and offensive."
In court on Thursday, Judge Jeffrey Locke prevented defense attorneys from claiming in front of jurors that Hernandez's alleged victims were killed as a result of gang activity.
Jose Baez, Hernandez's lawyer, used the social media activity of a man who survived the South End shooting in an effort to connect him and the victims to gangs instead of his client, but Locke would not allow it.
"You can't just throw things out there to simply smear a witness," Locke said.
Testimony in the trial will be suspended Tuesday due to expected inclement weather and the trial will resume Wednesday morning.
