National Football League

Aaron Hernandez lawyers file appeal, say jury was not 'reasonable'

Published May. 15, 2015 7:53 a.m. ET

foxsports

FALL RIVER, Mass. -- Lawyers for former New England Patriots player Aaron Hernandez have asked a judge to throw out his murder conviction, saying it was based on "improper speculation, conjecture and guesswork."

The lawyers say in papers filed this week with the trial judge that "no reasonable jury" could have found Hernandez guilty of killing Odin Lloyd in June 2013, and cite insufficient evidence for a conviction.

Hernandez was convicted in April of first-degree murder and sentenced to a mandatory term of life in prison without parole. Lloyd was dating the sister of Hernandez's fiancee.

The filing asks the judge for a finding of not guilty. The defense must take the step before an appeal, which is automatic under Massachusetts law.

Hernandez is awaiting trial in the killings of two men in 2012.