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Friday, April 21, 2017
By Michael Nichols
Categories: Drug Crimes
It is a Latin phrase that the commonwealth of Massachusetts still takes seriously. The murder conviction of Aaron Hernandez may be dismissed because he committed suicide and the appeal of his conviction was pending. A law recognized in Massachussettes, known as "abatement ab initio" meaning "from the beginning," causes a litigant's death pending the appeal of his conviction to lead to a posthumous dismissal of the conviction.
Hernandez committed suicide after he was acquitted on other murder charges in late April, 2017. However, he was already serving a life sentence for his conviction in the murder of a semi-professional football player. Hernandez was a rising superstar in the NFL but a young man from a hard-scrabble life marked by troubles with the law throughout his teenage years and early 20's. He was given a scholarship to the University of Florida and then realized his dreams when he was drafted by the New England Patriots, starring for the NFL champions until his arrest on murder charges.
Mr. Calkins practices criminal and DUI defense, family law and other selected litigation. He is a graduate of the Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School and has been a member of the Nichols Law Firm since May, 2015.