New England Patriots

Aaron Hernandez's murder conviction could be vacated after his death

Published Apr. 19, 2017 11:11 a.m. ET

Kerouac Smith

The shocking news that former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez had died of an apparent suicide on Wednesday morning could lead to the evacuation of his 2015 murder conviction.

Hernandez was appealing his first-degree murder conviction in the 2013 death of Odin Lloyd.

In Massachusetts, convictions are often vacated when a defendant dies before their appeal is heard.

According to the Boston Herald, his legal team is already working on it:

“I was doing research this morning,” said John M. Thompson, a state-appointed attorney who was representing Hernandez. “The first thing we have to do is get a death certificate. Once we have the official documentation, we will file the motion and see whether it’s contested.”