Motion to change venue in Aaron Hernandez murder trial denied

A motion to change the location of the trial over the 2013 killing of semi-pro football player Odin L. Lloyd was denied on Thursday, according to a report from the Associated Press.

The attorney representing Hernandez, Michael Fee, mentioned the nature of the media coverage of the case in arguing that is should be heard away from Bristol County, Mass. Fee also referenced the results of polls conducted by the defense.

The trial is scheduled to start Jan. 9.

From the AP:

In court Thursday, Hernandez's lawyer, Michael Fee, urged a judge to move the trial out of Bristol County, citing what he called ''sensational and inflammatory'' media coverage he said has prejudiced potential jurors against Hernandez. Fee said the press coverage of Hernandez has been ''relentless'' and has often included references to other crimes, including separate charges against Hernandez in Suffolk County in the 2012 killings of two Boston men.

''This has poisoned the jury pool in Bristol County,'' Fee said.

He cited two telephone polls commissioned by the defense in which more than half the respondents said they believe Hernandez is definitely or probably guilty in Lloyd's killing.

A superior court judge denied Fee's request on the grounds that the defense failed to demonstrate that it would be impossible to find impartial jurors, according to the report.

Hernandez has pleaded not guilty in the Lloyd case as well as in a separate case over a double homicide outside of a Boston night club in 2012.

- Chris Johnson