Alleged Murder Weapon Focus Of Testimony In Aaron Hernandez Trial
BOSTON (CBS) -- The gun prosecutors say Aaron Hernandez used to kill two men took center stage in the ex-NFL star's double murder trial Monday.
The ex-NFL star is accused of murdering Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado in the South End in 2012.
The prosecution brought in witnesses to tell the story of how the alleged murder weapon was discovered about a year after those murders.
They said it was found in an unlocked briefcase in the trunk of a car driven by Jailene Diaz-Ramos, who was in a 3-car crash on I-91 in Londmeadow on June 21, 2013.
Jailene Diaz-Ramos was 19 when she was arrested after police found weapon in car she crashed a year after murders. #AaronHernandez #wbz pic.twitter.com/4P5sXJLdYo
— Christina Hager (@HagerWBZ) March 13, 2017
Massachusetts State Police Trooper Paul Aten described taking an inventory of Diaz-Ramos's car, and finding a revolver and three rounds of ammunition. He then identified that revolver and ammunition after they were presented in court.
Diaz-Ramos was placed under arrest after Troopers determined she didn't have a license for the gun.
Ballistics testing later linked that gun found in Diaz-Ramos's car to the shooting of Abreu and Furtado.
MA State Trooper Paul Aten id's ammo found in car driven by Jailene Diaz-Ramos, in hospital. She was then arrested. #AaronHernandez #wbz pic.twitter.com/XAUgbClc4L
— Christina Hager (@HagerWBZ) March 13, 2017
Prosecutors asked the Troopers if Diaz-Ramos tried to contact a friend after her arrest.
Another trooper, Joshua Winters, described entering the gun, a .38 Smith & Wesson revolver, into evidence.
MA State Police Trooper Joshua Winters says car was "inventoried" when gun found. It's significant he doesn't use the word, "search" #wbz pic.twitter.com/mzRryTExhz
— Christina Hager (@HagerWBZ) March 13, 2017
Trooper Steven Lord gave some background in fingerprinting, and said no identifiable fingerprints were found on the weapon.
Trooper found no identifiable fingerprints on gun. "It was touched by somebody, but that's all I can say." #wbz pic.twitter.com/0OVRVg27jH
— Christina Hager (@HagerWBZ) March 13, 2017
The courtroom became tense as defense attorney Linda Kenney Baden questioned Trooper Lord on the finer points of lifting fingerprints from guns.
"I'm going to ask you to stop interrupting me." Trooper getting testy with #AaronHernandez's defense attorney Baden. #wbz
— Christina Hager (@HagerWBZ) March 13, 2017
Jurors were excused to lunch as a Boston Police detective testified about ballistics.
Boston Police Detective Tyrone Camper identifies this fired bullet in #AaronHernandez trial. #wbz pic.twitter.com/EDEXE63Zmh
— Christina Hager (@HagerWBZ) March 13, 2017
The defense asked the troopers if there was any evidence connecting Hernandez to the firearm, and troopers said there were no fingerprints or DNA evidence linking the gun to him.
Despite showing the jury the alleged murder weapon, the prosecution has so far provided no direct link to #AaronHernandez.
— Carl Stevens (@carlwbz) March 13, 2017
Before testimony began Monday, Judge Jeffrey Locke addressed the defense's motion for a mistrial based on the Friday testimony of a witness to the shooting at the heart of the case.
The defense said a survivor of that shooting, Raychides Sanches, gave a "knowing look and head nod" in the direction of Hernandez in court Friday--and argued the shooting survivor's testimony unfairly identified Hernandez as the shooter.
Their motion for a mistrial was denied.
BREAKING: Locke says motion for mistrial is DENIED #wbz #AaronHernandez
— Anna Meiler (@AnnaMeiler) March 13, 2017
Jurors were also asked by Judge Locke Monday to discuss whether or not they were willing to brave the huge winter storm expected to hit the area--and as of noontime, the jury was split over whether or not to continue the trial during the nor'easter on Tuesday.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Carl Stevens reports