After a jury convicted former Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez of killing Odin Lloyd, Hernandez mouthed, “You’re wrong.” He later reportedly said that the jury had gotten in wrong.
Eventually, Hernandez will get a chance to prove it.
Via the Associated Press, lawyer Doug Sheff told reporters on Wednesday that Hernandez will be called to testify in the wrongful death lawsuit filed against him by the estate of Odin Lloyd.
The Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination evaporates once the criminal process has ended. However, the criminal process won’t completely end until Hernandez’s appeal has resolved, since he potentially could get a new trial. It’s possible, if not likely, that the civil lawsuit will have to wait, if the goal will be to force Hernandez to tell his story.
If the goal is to secure compensation from Hernandez, it could be smarter to go forward as quickly as possible, without his testimony. With two other alleged murder victims pursuing civil claims and Alexander Bradley suing Hernandez for shooting Bradley in the face, the money may not be there later -- especially as Hernandez continues to rack up legal bills in his various prosecutions.