( CNN ) Two days after Odin Lloyd was found dead , New England Patriots star Aaron Hernandez looked into the eyes of team owner Robert Kraft and said he was innocent , Kraft testified Tuesday in Hernandez 's murder trial . Kraft , answering questions from a prosecutor and one of Hernandez 's attorneys on the witness stand in a Massachusetts courtroom , recalled a private conversation that he had with the star Patriots tight end on June 19 , at the Patriots ' Gillette Stadium , as news spread that Hernandez was being investigated in Lloyd 's death . `` He said he was not involved , '' Kraft testified in the courtroom in Fall River . `` He said he was innocent . '' Hernandez has been charged with murder and has pleaded not guilty to orchestrating the death of Lloyd , a semipro football player who was found dead in Massachusetts on June 17 , 2013 . Hernandez also has pleaded not guilty to a gun and ammunition charge . His co-defendants , Ernest Wallace and Carlos Ortiz , also pleaded not guilty and will be tried separately . Kraft testified that he asked to speak with Hernandez in an office near a weight room in the stadium , and asked the player to look him in the eye and tell him if he was involved in Lloyd 's death . According to Kraft , Hernandez told him during that meeting that he hoped the time of Lloyd 's death `` came out , '' because Hernandez had been at a club that night . According to testimony from Hernandez 's fiancée , Shayanna Jenkins , the player had not been at a club , but was at dinner with her and some friends before the shooting . Mel Robbins , a CNN legal analyst , called Kraft 's testimony `` explosive . '' `` What a great , great witness for the prosecution , '' she said . `` Basically what happened is Aaron Hernandez lied to his boss . And the only way you rebut it is if you put him on the stand . '' How did Hernandez know when the murder happened , Robbins asked , unless he was there ? The Patriots ' owner also testified , when asked by a defense attorney , that he 'd never had any problems with Hernandez , and that the player was always respectful to him . The billionaire magnate of The Kraft Group , a company with interests ranging from paper and packaging concerns to sports and entertainment , said Hernandez always greeted him with a hug and kiss . Asked by the defense why Hernandez was signed to a $ 40 million long-term contract , Kraft said simply : `` He 's a very good player . '' At times during his 30 minutes or so on the witness stand , Kraft seemed uncomfortable . `` Do you work ? '' Bristol County District Attorney William McCauley asked Kraft . `` I think so , yes . '' Asked where he worked , Kraft responded , 1 Patriot Place , or Gillette Stadium , where the Super Bowl champions play their home games . `` What do you do for work ? '' `` Whatever they ask me to do . '' Outside court , surrounded by cameras , Kraft expressed sadness over Lloyd 's death . `` A man died , '' he said . `` This is about a man being killed . It 's unfortunate . '' Later , Mark Briggs , head of security at Gillette Stadium , testified that he also asked Hernandez whether the former star was telling the truth about Lloyd . `` He swore on the baby 's life that he was telling the truth , '' Briggs said . Hernandez was arrested in connection with Lloyd 's death a week after that meeting with Kraft . The Patriots released Hernandez less than two hours after the arrest on June 26 , 2013 . Jenkins , 25 , and Hernandez are the parents of a young daughter . Jenkins ' sister Shaneah was dating Lloyd , 27 , who was shot six times , according to prosecutors . The trial began in late January .
Aaron Hernandez is charged with first-degree murder in the slaying of Odin Lloyd . CNN ' owner testifies that Hernandez was always respectful with him .