(AP) — Two murder cases against a 58-year-old south-central Nebraska man have been advanced to district court for trial.

Michael Petersen appeared in Hall County Court on Tuesday and waived his right to preliminary hearings in both cases. Petersen is charged with two counts of first-degree murder. Prosecutors say he used a rifle on Nov. 13 to shoot Nancy Petersen outside her home in Buffalo County and then drove to Grand Island and killed a 52-year-old lawyer, Todd Elsbernd.

Elsbernd represented Michael Petersen in his 2005 divorce.

Petersen, who lives near Glenvil in Clay County, was arrested Nov. 14 about a mile east of Hastings. Police say he was armed but offered no resistance.