Bomb threat delays former Patriot Aaron Hernandez’s murder trial

A bomb threat called into the Fall River, Mass., courthouse Thursday caused a brief delay in the murder trial of former New England Patriot Aaron Hernandez.

The Fall River Justice Center was evacuated around noon after Superior Court Judge Susan Garsh was alerted to the threat, according to the Associated Press. Massachusetts State Police then searched the area, but did not find any explosives.

When the trial, now in its eighth week, resumed at 2 p.m., Garsh told jurors there was no reason to believe the threat was related to the case at hand.

Hernandez, 25, is accused of murdering semi-pro football player Odin Lloyd in June 2013. The 27-year-old victim had been dating the sister of Hernandez’s fiancee, Shayanna Jenkins.

Lloyd’s body was discovered in an industrial area not far from Hernandez’s North Attleboro, Mass., home.

The prosecution is expected to rest its case next week.

Hernandez, who is currently being held without bail while his trial takes place, was indicted in May on murder charges in Boston in the killings of two other men.

Hernandez played for the Patriots for three seasons after he was drafted by New England in 2010. He was released by the team after his initial arrest in connection with the murder in 2013.

Twitter: @mattwilhalme