A lawyer for the family of a man slain by Aaron Hernandez plans to call the former New England Patriots star to the stand in a wrongful death lawsuit.

Speaking alongside Odin Lloyd's mother, lawyer Doug Sheff promised the case would take a different tone than Hernandez's criminal trial, which ended April 15 with his conviction and sentencing to life in prison for Lloyd's 2013 murder.

Sheff said Hernandez won't be able to avoid testifying by pleading the Fifth Amendment.

He says Lloyd's mother, Ursula Ward, wants to know what happened and why.

He said the lawsuit seeks unspecified damages, but maintained the family is not in it for the money because no amount can compensate for their loss.

Ward said her son never took life for granted and was her hero.  (Associated Press)

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