Aaron Hernandez in Court for 2012 Drive-by Shootings

BOSTON (AP) — Former New England Patriots star Aaron Hernandez has appeared in court in Boston as a judge met with attorneys to prepare for his upcoming trial in the 2012 shooting deaths of two men.

Hernandez and his lawyers attended a status conference Wednesday in Suffolk Superior Court. The former tight end is accused of killing Safiro Furtado and Daniel de Abreau in a drive-by shooting following a dispute at a Boston nightclub.

Hernandez also faces a count of witness intimidation. Prosecutors say he shot a witness in the face.

Hernandez grew up in Bristol, Connecticut. He's serving a life sentence in the 2013 killing of Odin Lloyd, who was dating his fiancee's sister.

Jury selection for the Boston murder trial is set to begin Feb. 13. The judge scheduled a Dec. 20 hearing for arguments on pre-trial motions.