Aaron Hernandez Murder Case Update: Former New England Patriots Tight End’s Associates Indicted With Murder; Defense Lawyers Claim Harassment

Aaron Hernandez murder case update involves two of his associates who were indicted for murder charges when they allegedly helped New England Patriots' former star kill another person, prompting the defense lawyers to accuse prosecutors of harassment.

Ernest Wallace, 42, and Carlos Ortiz, 28, were earlier charged as accessories after the fact when Aaron Hernandez reportedly killed Odin L. Lloyd who was dumped in an industrial yard near his house in North Attleborough in June last year.

However, Bristol DA C. Samuel Sutter on Friday elevated the charges against the two in relation to Aaron Hernandez' murder case. The District Attorney's Office did not give any reason for the change, according to Boston Globe.

"The nature and timing of this new charge against Mr. Wallace speaks for itself. One can only ask, is it based on the facts and the law, or something else?" Attorney David Meier, who represents Ernest Wallace, said.

Ernest Wallace is reportedly the right-hand man of the former New England Patriot's tight end.

The lawyer for Carlos Ortiz, John Connors, meanwhile said there's no evidence introduced by the prosecutors to warrant the murder charges, as he called the latest development "absolutely crazy."

"We started out having a gun [charge], then accessory after the fact [of murder], and now we're up to first-degree murder," he said.

"Is it because they decided that they're not going to use my guy as a witness, and now they're going to squeeze him with this?" he added.

The DA's office was earlier accused of granting interviews and making statements that are prejudicial to the Aaron Hernandez murder case, prompting the state Judicial Supreme Court to uphold the gag order.

Although the next trial for the former New England Patriots' star wasn't scheduled yet, Sports World said it would likely be in the summer in June.