A man charged with being an accessory to the murder the New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez was in court on Thursday, as Ernest Wallace pleaded to the judge that he was not guilty to the charges that have been filed against him.
According to USA Today, Wallace was in Fall River superior court on Thursday and pleaded not guilty to being an accessory to murder and it is another step in the course that will eventually bring the case to trial. Hernandez was arrested the week after Lloyd's body was found shot dead near his home in North Attleboro and he was released by the Patriots the day he was brought into custody despite recently signing a $40 million contract extension. Hernandez was considered to be one of the top young tight ends in the league and now his career is likely over if he is convicted.
The report says that Wallace is being held in jail on half a million dollars bail and he will be back in court with the chance to change up his bail, as a hearing is set for September 26. Wallace was arrested after Hernandez was apprehended and was in Florida after the murder after taking a bus and he eventually turned himself in after a warrant was put out for his arrest.
Wallace allegedly was with Hernandez and another accomplice in Carlos Ortiz on the night of the murder and he also reportedly said that Hernandez admitted to the killing. Reports have said that Wallace, who is from the same Bristol town as Hernandez, allegedly lived for a time with Hernandez's cousin and uncle in their house and that Ortiz and Wallace returned there after the murder occurred.
Hernandez appeared in Fall River superior court recently and has another court date scheduled next month after he was indicted for the murder of Lloyd. Police have not yet found the murder weapon in the case and Hernandez faces life in prison of he is convicted.
