Lawrence Philips was a star football player for the University of Nebraska in the mid 90's and first round NFL draft pick. But now he faces up to life in prison if convicted of murdering his inmate at Kern Valley State Prison last April.

Philips seemed disturbed by the evidence presented against him during his preliminary hearing today.

Kern County's deputy district attorney presented several cases of Lawrence’s domestic violent past - trying to prove that Lawrence was just a ticking time bomb for murder.

Philips cell mate Damion Soward was found dead inside the cell the two men were sharing and it was later determined that Soward was strangled.

Phillips is already serving a 31 year sentence for the assault of his former girlfriend and driving his car into several teenagers.

Today the judge decided that there's enough evidence to send him to trial for his cell mate's death.

Philips is due back in court in two weeks for his arraignment. His trial date has not been set.