Prosecutors appear to lack a major witness in the Aaron Hernandez murder trial. If a potential deal goes through, that could change in a big way.
Prosecutors submitted a petition Wednesday to Massachusetts Superior Court Judge E. Susan Garsh asking the court to grant Hernandez’s fiancée, Shayanna Jenkins, immunity in exchange for her testimony against the former New England Patriots tight end.
Jenkins’ potential testimony could play a huge role in the case, as prosecutors believe she disposed the weapon Hernandez allegedly used to kill semi-pro football player Odin Lloyd in June 2013. Court documents allege that Hernandez sent Jenkins a coded text message the day after Lloyd’s death telling her to get rid of the gun, but Jenkins is the only person who could prove that true.
Jenkins was indicted on a perjury charge in Sept. 27, 2013, and prosecutors claimed they had direct evidence that she lied to a grand jury about several things, including discarding what they believe to be Hernandez’s gun.
If Jenkins testifies against Hernandez in the upcoming murder trial — set to begin Friday in Fall River, Mass. — her perjury charge likely would be dropped.
Thumbnail photo via Twitter/@DailyMail
