Although there was lack of a gun, which was probably thrown out by Hernandez's fiancee, there was an abundance of cell phone records, video tape, even at Hernandez's house and other locations, which chronicled Hernandez's every move at the night of the murder.
The most telling statement was from the testimony of Robert Kraft, the owner of the Patriots. He testified that Hernandez told him that he couldn't wait to time of the murder was made public because he was at a night club.
The burning questions would be, Ah, Aaron, how do you know what the time of the murder was?
By the sound of it, Robert Kraft's testimony played an important role in the jury's decision:
http://blog.masslive.com/patriots/2015/04/robert_krafts_testimony_in_aar.html
I certainly was not surprised at the verdict. The Judge was extremely guarded to what she allowed. Alexander Bradley who was shot and blinded in one eye by Hernandez was not allowed to testify that he was shot by Hernandez. Odin Lloyd and Bradley have one thing in common. Both men dealt marijuana to Hernandez.
Well, I read somewhere someone said that Hernandez had better lawyers than the prosecution. Doesn't look like the defense was better. The evidence was rather strong despite the tampering with the evidence that Hernandez's fiancee most likely did.
Here is Hernandez's sentencing hearing. The forgotten man, Odin Lloyd, was the man who Hernandez murdered. Maybe in time Hernandez will be forgotten. He was a psychopath. He doesn't deserve mention. Odin Lloyd only played semipro football on a high school field. He was a far better man than his murderer, who played in NFL on a super bowl team. The impact statements were quite moving. It is a very sad end of a life. May the murderer rot in person a disheveled weak old man.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxYpazZAVjI