Aaron Hernandez's lawyer apologizes for making Deflategate joke in court
A lawyer for former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez was scolded by a judge in court for making a joke about the Deflategate scandal while questioning a witness during Hernandez’s murder trial.
According to the Associated Press, Hernandez’s lawyer, James Sultan, was questioning a state police trooper on Thursday concerning tire pressure when he asked if the officer ever received “training in football deflation devices.”
The Patriots are being investigated by the NFL to see if they used under-inflated footballs in their AFC championship victory over the Indianapolis Colts.
Defense argues police bungled crime scene; Day 5 of Hernandez trial
Superior Court Judge Susan Garsh told Sultan on Friday that they are conducting ”serious business” in court and that she expects the jokes to stop. Sultan expressed regret and said it was wrong to make jokes in the court, according to the AP.
Hernandez, 25, is charged with first-degree murder and other weapons charges over the June 2013 shooting death of 27-year-old Odin Lloyd, a semi-professional football player who was dating the sister of Hernandez's fiancée. Hernandez pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Friday’s proceedings have jurors taking a tour of the crime scene as well as cell phone towers that picked up data used by investigators to charge Hernandez.
Jurors will also visit the street in Boston where Lloyd lived, the industrial park where Lloyd's body was found and Hernandez’s home, which is located a mile from the crime scene.
Hernandez remains in custody and is not allowed to accompany the tour.
- Scooby Axson
