Defence rests in Aaron Hernandez’s double-murder trial

Former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez gestures during his double murder trial in Suffolk Superior Court in Boston, Wednesday, April 5, 2017. (Nancy Lane/The Boston Herald via AP, Pool)

BOSTON — The defence has rested its case in the double-murder trial of former NFL star Aaron Hernandez.

Lawyers for Hernandez called their final witnesses Wednesday. Hernandez was not called to testify in his own defence.

The former tight end for the New England Patriots is charged in the fatal shootings of two men after a brief encounter in a Boston nightclub in July 2012.

A friend who was with Hernandez testified that Hernandez shot them two hours after one of the men bumped into Hernandez at the club and spilled his drink.

But Hernandez’s lawyers say the friend — Alexander Bradley — shot the men over a drug deal.

Closing arguments are scheduled for Thursday.

Hernandez is serving a life sentence in the 2013 killing of semi-professional football player Odin Lloyd.

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