Aaron Hernandez's tattoos may play role in murder trial
Body art has played a role in a surprising number of criminal cases nationwide, though legal experts concede that tattoos by themselves are rarely a deciding factor in convictions.
A Massachusetts judge ruled this week that prosecutors can tell the jury about two tattoos they contend relate to the crimes Hernandez is awaiting trial on: murder charges for the fatal shootings of two Boston men in 2012 and a witness intimidation charge for the nonfatal shooting of a former Hernandez friend in 2013.
In 2011, a tattoo helped convict a California gang member in a 2004 fatal shooting at a liquor store.
The tattoo on Anthony Garcia's chest depicted the murder scene, including the name of the liquor store, the Christmas lights outside the store, a light post in the store's parking lot and a convalescent home located next to the store.
In some cases, judges have granted motions to allow defense attorneys to cover up tattoos they believe will prejudice the jury against their clients.
In Florida, a judge decided that the court should pay a makeup artist to cover up a swastika tattoo on the neck of a self-described neo-Nazi accused of stabbing his neighbor and killing a friend of his neighbor's son.
John Allen Ditullio's lawyers argued successfully that his "scary" tattoos, which also included barbed wire on his face, could influence the jury.