Aaron Hernandez Trial Judge’s Stern Warning About the Super Bowl

iStock/Thinkstock(FALL RIVER, Mass.) — As the judge wrapped up day two of the Aaron Hernandez murder trial on Friday, she gave the jurors an unusual warning in recognition of the fact that this high-profile case involving a former NFL player was unfolding in advance of a weekend that isn’t like any other during the football season.

“I am not going to forbid you from watching this Super Bowl on Sunday, if that’s something that’s really important to you,” Judge Susan Garsh told the 18 jurors.

“But I am going to ask you to be especially vigilant if you’re watching the game with friends or family or any third party, just have your antenna — just be really, really vigilant. You have to avoid anything that has anything to do with this case or Mr. Hernandez,” she said. “If you hear that word, you got to walk out of the room, distance yourself, immediately stop people, and if his name or this case is mention on the television screen or computer, just walk away.”

New England Patriots player Aaron Hernandez, now 25, is accused of killing Odin Lloyd, a semi-pro football player, on June 17, 2013.

As Hernandez’s trial gathers steam, his former team, the Patriots, will play the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl on Sunday.

“It’s vitally important that you know how long it took us to get a group of 18 fair and partial jurors, and it’s very, very important that you avoid being exposed to any outside influences,” Garsh added. “As I’ve told you before, it just would not be fair to anyone involved in this case so please, if you feel you must watch the game, take every precaution to avoid being exposed to any outside influence to this case.”

Follow @ABCNewsRadio
Copyright © 2015, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.