With a trial date finally set in one of the three murder cases against former Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez, his lawyers want to force his former employer to share some information with them.
Via the Associated Press, Hernandez’s legal team on Tuesday filed a request for a subpoena seeking documents in the team’s possession relating to “psychological testing, medication records, X-rays, MRIs, CT scans, drug or alcohol abuse-related records, other medical records, physical therapy records, scouting reports, and investigative reports.”
The lawyers claim that the documents are essential to trial preparation, contending that the request “is not intended as a general ‘fishing’ expedition” and explaining the documents are potentially relevant to his state of mind and circumstances.
It’s potentially a stretch to believe that any materials in the team’s possession would relate to the crafting of a defense to the charge that Hernandez killed Odin Lloyd a year ago yesterday, but reasonable doubt can take many shapes and forms. Before picking the best ammunition for a closing argument aimed at concocting something/anything to lead to an acquittal, the lawyers have to know what’s possibly out there -- including the possibility of claiming he’s not guilty by reason of insanity.
Regardless of whether any information from the Patriots actually is used at trial, a court order forcing the disclosure of documents about Hernandez could lead to the eventual leakage of materials suggesting that the Patriots knew or should have known more about his activities away from the field.