BOSTON — Former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez, in his first court appearance since his April murder conviction, pleaded not guilty Thursday to witness intimidation in the shooting of his onetime friend Alexander Bradley.
Suffolk County Assistant District Attorney Patrick Haggan described Bradley, who survived the February 2013 shooting, as "the only person who could implicate" Hernandez in a 2012 drive-by shooting. Hernandez is awaiting trial on double murder charges in the Boston killings.
Hernandez was unshaven, but wore a suit and tie for his afternoon arraignment Thursday. A new tattoo was visible under his shirt collar, featuring the word "LIFETIME" scrawled above a large star on his neck — ink that he has added since he was sentenced last month to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the June 2013 killing of Odin Lloyd, the boyfriend of his fiancee's sister.