UVa football player in court; murder suspect hearing delayed

Michael Brown, a University of Virginia football player police believe stole music equipment from a car earlier this year and sold it on eBay, waived his right to a preliminary hearing Thursday in Charlottesville General District Court.

General District Court Judge Robert H. Downer Jr. certified the charges, so the case will be heard by a grand jury in August. Prosecutors also chose not to pursue a marijuana possession charge against Brown.

Also in court Thursday, Waverly “Eddie” Whitlock appeared via video to learn that his preliminary hearing would be moved to Oct. 9. Whitlock was charged June 3 with capital murder, robbery and malicious wounding in connection with the shooting death of 11-year-old Aziz Damar Booth and the wounding of a 23-year-old man.