I can see Hale wanting a few degrees of separation from the actual murder of the judge--you know, "inspiring" someone to kill the judge, but not getting his hands dirty--but he may have said the wrong thing to the wrong person and that's how they nailed Hale. I hope the case is airtight.
The prosecutor, Patrick Fitzgerald, is playing it smart by keeping details of this case close to his vest. (I don't like prosecutors who try their cases in the press.) I note none of the news stories I've read give much more than the basics of the indictment, which was quite thin as to details, and history of Hale and WCOTC.
There's also the matter of the informant, whose life would definitely be in danger once his/her identity is known.
Hale will pay for what he has done. He filled a lot of heads with crap and caused havoc.