A judge ruled Tuesday that Shayanna Jenkins, the fiancée of Aaron Hernandez, would be granted immunity by prosecution if she testifies against him for the alleged 2013 murder of Odin Lloyd. The ruling, reported by ESPN's Michele Steele, is a potentially major development in the case. According to Steele, Jenkins could be held in contempt of court and possibly jailed if she refuses to testify.
Aaron Hernandez’s fiancée will be granted immunity if she testifies
Hernandez’s fiancée may be forced to testify against the former tight end, or be held in contempt of court and possibly jailed.
Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Jenkins pleaded not guilty to a perjury charge in October that alleged that she lied to a grand jury about facts pertaining to the Hernandez case, including her role in disposing evidence. Documents released in August, including surveillance tape and a text message exchange, suggested that Hernandez tasked Jenkins with getting rid of a gun used to kill Lloyd.
Prosecutors allege that Jenkins has lied to the grand jury 29 times during the case, per Steele. If true, immunity would allow Jenkins to escape potentially serious punishment if found guilty of perjury in a murder case.
Jenkins was reportedly cooperative with investigators at the start of their investigation. That cooperation allegedly ended when Hernandez told her that his agent did not want her speaking with investigators without an attorney present.
Hernandez and Jenkins were prevented from getting married after the investigation began. If the two had been wed, Jenkins could have been granted immunity from testifying against her would-be husband.
See More:
