Sunday, January 15, 2017

ART OR SELF-INCRIMINATION?

by Bob Walsh

A lot of people get tattoos to mark significant events in their lives. It just isn't that rare any more. That being said, former NFL player Aaron Hernandez is being accused of two murders and a non-fatal shooting, at least to some extent based on tattoos he has which seem to depict the actual murders.

The judge ruled this week that prosecutors can tell the jury about the tattoos. They depict the shooting allegedly in enough detail that they have some probative value. At least the judge thought so. It is hard to tell from broadcast news reports as news writers and news readers are woefully ignorant of the technical end of things and don't know a chamber from a cylinder or a semi-automatic from a revolver.

It is unlikely that the case will turn solely on the skin art. However, it sure isn't going to help Hernandez.

No comments: