Aaron Hernandez pleads not guilty to witness intimidation

Hernandez allegedly tried to keep a witness silent by shooting him in the face.

Former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandezpleaded not guilty Thursday in Boston to witness intimidation, according to NBC Connecticut. 

Hernandez, 25, is charged with trying to keep a witness to an alleged double murder quiet by shooting him in the face. The witness, Alexander Bradley, was the only witness to the double murder, the district attorney said. 

Prosecutors have accused Hernandez of shooting the witness in the face in Florida in 2013. The witness allegedly made a comment about a 2012 double murder, for which Hernandez was indicted in 2014. 

In April, Hernandez was found guilty of first-degree murder in the death of 27-year-old Odin Lloyd, who was dating the sister of Hernandez's fiancée, Shayanna Jenkins. 

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Hernandez received an automatic sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole, which results in an appeal to Massachusetts' highest court. 

A court date has been set for June 4, and the judge said that he wants to begin the trial this year, according to NBC Connecticut. 

- Stanley Kay