A Judge excused more jurors from the pool in Massachusetts court on Wednesday for the murder trial of former New England Patriots player Aaron Hernandez.
For Mark Lavita of Attleboro, Massachusetts, seeing Aaron Hernandez Wednesday made him realize the next few months of his life could be this- a Fall River courtroom.
"And then coming here and having him walk into the room, the light went on and said, you know, I could be here for a while," Lavita began.
Lavita is just one of many questioned by the Judge in the high profile murder case, as she continues to find jurors. The Patriots fan says he also took note of how the former New England Patriot looked.
"He's a lot smaller than I thought," Lavita said. "A lot smaller."
Lavita says he's served on a total of six juries in his lifetime, but was dismissed from this one for one reason.
"I'm a single dad, I got two kids, both are in school. Like I said, I just got off a four and a half month layoff, so getting back into work, it's nice to have the check," he explained.
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Another juror off the case ironically lives directly across from the Fall River Court House.
"When I actually seen him, he was so big I was like, 'wow,'" said Gail Martins.
And while her impression of Hernandez was much different, the reason she was dismissed, also different.
"I've got a lot of medical problems," Martins explained.
Neither juror says they noticed victim Odin Lloyd's family sitting in the courtroom. Lloyd's mother and family have made their presence known for every day of jury selection.
While Hernandez has pleaded not guilty to Lloyd's murder, Lavita believes most jurors already have an opinion on what happened. He has his opinion- which he won't share- but says if chosen, he could have remained fair.
"I respect the system and I would hope that someone like myself would be on a jury if I did do something like this," he said.
According to the Judge, the last of the jurors will be brought in Thursday and Friday. It is likely the trial will begin next week.
