It was another big win for the Aaron Hernandez defense on Wednesday.
Judge Susan Garsh ruled that testimony about a .45-caliber gun from Hernandez's childhood friend, Robert Paradis, will not be allowed into trial due to inconsistencies, among other reasons, and because it would only be "prejudicial."
The hearing happened after the jury had left the courtroom for the day.
Hernandez is charged with killing Odin Lloyd, a 27-year-old semiprofessional football player, in June 2013. Lloyd was dating the sister of Hernandez's fiancee. His bullet-riddled body was found in an industrial park in North Attleboro, not far from Hernandez's home. Hernandez has pleaded not guilty.
Prosecutors have alleged that a .45-caliber gun was used to kill Lloyd. The murder weapon hasn't been found.
Earlier on Wednesday, North Attleboro Detective Mike Elliott testified about a piece of blue bubble gum stuck to a shell casing that was allegedly removed from Hernandez's rental car following Lloyd's murder. The defense grilled Elliott on why police removed the gum from the shell casing, potentially jeopardizing the evidence.
Additional testimony was heard from the uncle of Hernandez's fiancee.
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Azia Jenkins testified that the day after Lloyd's murder, he played pool with Hernandez in Hernandez's basement "man-cave." Jenkins said when a commercial came on TV, Hernandez remarked that his "endorsements were gone."
Jenkins said Hernandez didn't elaborate. Otherwise, Jenkins said Hernandez appeared cool, calm and collected.
Also taking the witness stand on Wednesday was a North Attleboro Enterprise Rent-A-Car manager.
She testified that the rental Altima that Hernandez was reportedly driving on the night of the murder was returned with a broken mirror and was heavily scratched.
A toll invoice was also shown to the jury that reveals a toll violation for the Altima on the Mass Pike about 30 minutes before Lloyd's murder.
Prosecutors allege Hernandez picked Lloyd up at his home in Dorchester the night of the murder and then drove him to North Attleboro where he was killed.
Hernandez has also pleaded not guilty in the 2012 fatal shootings of two men after a chance encounter at a Boston nightclub.
