Prosecutors remain hopeful one of the two men alleged to have been with Aaron Hernandez on the night Odin Lloyd was killed last June will ultimately flip on the former New England Patriots star, and serve as a witness for the prosecution in the first-degree murder case he now faces.

SI.com reports authorities are hopeful that after being hit with murder charges earlier this month, Ernest Wallace will eventually agree to testify against Hernandez in order to broker a better deal for himself.

Aaron Hernandez judge upholds gag order

Over the last several months Wallace and Carlos Ortiz, who has also been indicted for murder, have been held on accessory charges. Those charges carry a maximum sentence of seven years behind bars, while any sentence for a murder conviction would be much stiffer.

At one time, prosecutors were rumored to be working on a plea-deal with Ortiz where he would testify against the 24-year-old former NFL veteran, but several media outlets have reported that arrangement fell apart over investigators' concerns he would not prove a credible witness.

Aaron Hernandez charged in jailhouse brawl

Police have speculated Hernandez may have killed Lloyd over his knowledge about other violent crimes he is alleged to have been involved in.

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