Shanna Gardner, Mario Fernandez pre-trial hearing; first since Jose Baez accused SAO of ‘foul play’
This is the first hearing since lead defense attorney Jose Baez accused the state attorney’s office of “outright foul play” in this Jacksonville Beach murder trial.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Shanna Gardner and her estranged husband, Mario Fernandez, will be attending a pre-trial hearing Tuesday morning.
This is the first hearing since lead defense attorney Jose Baez accused the state attorney’s office of “outright foul play” in this Jacksonville Beach murder trial.
Gardner, 37, is being held on first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder charges after the death of her ex-husband Jared Bridegan, in what police say was an elaborate scheme. Gardner faces the death penalty in this case and has been denied bond while awaiting her trial.
Baez gathered the media Friday to discuss the case, which is something he says he never does, and announced that he would be filing a motion with the court that accuses the prosecution of withholding evidence from the defense and the lead detective of lying under oath.
Baez said Judge London Kite has a few options in how to respond to his motion, including dismissing the case, dismissing the state attorney’s office or giving reconsideration to whether Gardner can seek bond.
The state attorney’s office is expected to respond to Baez’s motion Tuesday, as it released the following statement Friday:
“We will respond to these spurious allegations in the appropriate venue — the courtroom, not the courthouse steps. We continue to abide by the ethical standards that govern all Florida attorneys regarding trial publicity.”
You can watch the hearing live on this page starting at 9 a.m.
