Sworn statements made by Aaron Hernandez, a former star tight end for the New England Patriots currently facing murder charges in the shooting death of Odin Lloyd, who had been dating the sister of Hernandez's fiancée, have been released. The statements provide a view into his state of mind during initial questioning from authorities while they searched his home.
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"I felt helpless in the face of the occupation of my house by the police," Hernandez said. "I was also very concerned about what would happen to my fiance and our baby if I refused to answer their questions. I did not feel free to leave at any time during the search."
His words were in a statement filed in support of a motion to suppress evidence against him in his murder trial. Hernandez is the primary suspect in Lloyd's killing, and he has pleaded not guilty to the charges. In the sworn statement Hernandez also complained about the attitude of the officers who searched his home.
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"They had a very confrontational manner. Even when I tried to end the conversation and told them to contact my lawyers, they persisted in trying to question me. They made me feel like I was a suspect."
Hernandez's legal team is attempting to suppress evidence gleaned from conversations with him on June 18, claiming he wasn't read his rights, and alleging he was "essentially in police custody."
Hernandez specifically mentions in his statement that his Miranda rights were not read to him.
"Many of the officers carried weapons which were visible to me," he said. "Officers asked me a number of questions, including where my cellphone was and the password for my phone," he said. "I told them that my cellphone was with my lawyers, and I told them the password. I was not given Miranda warnings at any point."
That questioning occurred without appropriate Miranda warnings and after Hernandez had invoked his right to counsel. Accordingly all fruits of his statements must be suppressed," his lawyers have argued.
They were successful previously in having evidence taken from electronics seized from his home thrown out because they were illegally obtained via a warrant for a specific cellphone. The prosecution argued that multiple devices were confiscated because it wasn't immediately clear which was the item in question.
Hernandez is also facing double murder charges in the drive by shooting deaths of Safiro Furtado and Daniel de Abreu after a chance encounter in a Boston nightclub.
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