As the first murder case against former Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez moves toward the selection of a jury and, eventually, the taking of testimony, one fairly significant chunk of testimony could come from Hernandez’s fiancée, Shayanna Jenkins.
Charged with perjury, Jenkins possibly has a deal that would include resolving the charges in exchange for testimony against Hernandez. According to Martin Finucane of the Boston Globe, Hernandez’s lawyers want to know if such a deal exists.
Hernandez’s attorneys have filed a motion with the presiding judge seeking an order requiring the prosecutors to “disclose forthwith all promises, rewards, or inducements” made to Jenkins.
Last week, the Globe reported that Jenkins had a confidential meeting with prosecutors and her lawyer, which suggested that she possibly will be negotiating an agreement to testify against Hernandez. She allegedly lied to the grand jury investigating the case.
The fact that Hernandez’s lawyers had to file a motion to find out whether Jenkins has a deal with prosecutors suggests that the relationship between Hernandez and Jenkins has changed in a significant and fundamental way. Hernandez fears that she’ll be showing up to testify against him at trial, and Hernandez’s lawyers want to know if the mother of his child is about to send him up the river.
