New double-murder charges devastating for Aaron Hernandez

Third, the fact that Massachusetts permits murder convictions on "joint venture" theory seriously disadvantages Hernandez. In Massachusetts, a person can be

Aaron Hernandez signed a $40M extension in August 2012, just weeks after an alleged double murder :: Josh Reynolds/AP

Third, the fact that Massachusetts permits murder convictions on "joint venture" theory seriously disadvantages Hernandez. In Massachusetts, a person can be convicted of murder if he or she assists in the carrying out of a murder. This means that Hernandez would not need to be the "trigger man" to be convicted on any of the murders. If he was in the car and assisted in the shootings of Lloyd, Abreu and Furtado, he would likely be deemed a murderer.

Michael McCann is a Massachusetts attorney and the founding director of the Sports and Entertainment Law Institute at the University of New Hampshire School of Law. He is also the distinguished visiting Hall of Fame Professor of Law at Mississippi College School of Law.