Aaron Hernandez Murder Investigation: Probable Cause Hearing Delayed

Aaron Hernandez, who only months ago was one of the most promising Latino superstars in the NFL and now faces charges for murder, appeared in court Tuesday afternoon for a probable cause hearing, which was delayed.

Hernandez lawyer Jamie Sultan objected to the petition for a delay and asked for a dismissal beacause prosecutors failed to meet the probable cause threshold after his client's last court appearance a month ago.

Prosecutors asked the judge for an extension because of a great number of witness testimonies that have been collected and evidence that was gathered from Hernandez's apartment that matches the gun caliber found at the murder scene.

The judge denied Hernandez's defense team's request for dismissal and scheduled the former football player's next court date for Aug. 22.

Hernandez, who appeared at the court in a dark suit and an unbuttoned white shirt, has pleaded not guilty to the murder in the death of Odin Lloyd, whose body was found in an industrial park near Hernandez's home on June 17. The man is believed to have been shot five times execution style.

Prosecutors say Hernandez, along with Ernest Wallace and Carlos Ortiz, drove with Lloyd to the North Attleborough industrial park. Authorities have not disclosed who the shooter was but documents filed in Florida seem to indicate that Hernandez himself is the culprit. According to the records, Ortiz told police that Wallace had confessed to Hernandez being the shooter.

Hernandez's defense contends that the evidence against the player is circumstantial.

Warrants issued on Tuesday in Hernandez's hometown of Bristol, Conneticut, indicate that police found further evidence, including ammunition, a gun box and documents tied to Ortiz and Wallace at the home of Hernandez's uncle.

The warrants were used to search that home, where Ortiz said he also lived; an apartment inked to Ortiz; and a rental car police say was used by Wallace and Ortiz to return to Connecticut the day after the shooting.

The items seized from the home include clothing, Correction Department documents linked to Ortiz and Wallace, a plastic gun box and two boxes of .38-caliber ammunition.

Hernandez could also end up facing an indictment in the murders of two men killed in a recent drive-by shooting. The former player  is also accused in a February shooting that took place in Miami, Florida in which a man lost an eye.