A Superior Court judge in Massachusetts has set dates for two upcoming hearings in the ongoing double murder trial of former NFL star Aaron Hernandez.

The New England Patriots former tight end stands trial as the trigger-man in the 2012 drive-by killings of Safiro Furtado and Daniel de Abreu outside a downtown Boston nightclub.

According to WCVB, Hernandez is charged with gunning down both men after one of them accidentally spilled a drink on him inside the club and failed to apologize. He has pleaded not guilty.

The judge set a return of property hearing for Feb. 16 and a status hearing in the case for May 3. Jury selection in the trial was scheduled to commence this month, but the judge previously delayed those proceedings while both sides haggle over evidence.

The 26-year-old Hernandez is already serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole in the 2013 execution style killing of onetime associate Odin Lloyd. During trial, prosecutors argued that Hernandez may have shot Lloyd over his knowledge of other violent crimes the former star is suspected of committing.

Since being jailed at the Souza-Baranowski maximum security prison, Hernandez has had more than his share of difficulties. He was recently moved to a more isolated area of the prison, after a sweep of his cell turned up a homemade "shank."

More recently, Hernandez appeared for a court hearing sporting a large jailhouse tattoo that reads "Lifetime" on his neck, which some jail officials have speculated is a symbol of his new prison gang affiliations.

Hernandez is not expected to appear in the courtroom for either of his upcoming hearings.

Prior to being charged in connection with the Lloyd killing, Hernandez had recently inked a $40 million extension with the Patriots. He was said to be one of Hall of Fame bound quarterback Tom Brady's favorite targets.

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