Aaron Hernandez's Fiancée Next To Testify In Double Murder Trial
BOSTON (CBS) - Aaron Hernandez's fiancée was expected to take the stand as testimony continued in the ex-NFL star's double murder trial, but her testimony has been pushed back until Wednesday.
Shayanna Jenkins was in the courtroom during testimony Tuesday and prosecutors said she may be called before day's end. Just before 4 p.m. Judge Jeffrey Locke said due to the late hour, Jenkins will likely instead be the first witness called Wednesday.
Several jurors are sick, so Locke said there is a possibility Wednesday's session could be canceled. The proceedings are scheduled to begin at noon.
Hernandez is charged in the murders of Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado in Boston in 2012.
The Florida shooting of Alexander Bradley, an ex-friend of Aaron Hernandez, was again the focus of testimony Tuesday morning.
Bradley claims the former Patriots wide receiver killed the men because of an incident in a nearby nightclub in which one of the men spilled a drink on Hernandez.
Hernandez is also facing a witness intimidation charge for allegedly shooting Bradley in the face in Florida in 2013. Prosecutors say Hernandez shot Bradley because, as a witness to the Boston shooting, he knew too much.
Testimony on Monday centered on the shooting of Bradley, with other Hernandez friends and associates who were alleged to have been present. Attorneys questioned Tyrone Crawford, a childhood friend of Hernandez, as well as Deonte Thompson, a former University of Florida teammate of Hernandez and current Chicago Bears wide receiver.
Thompson was allegedly in the backseat of the car in which Bradley was shot--but on Monday, he told the court he could remember nothing from the night of the shooting.
On Tuesday, Bradley's shooting and the Florida trip were again the focus.
Crawford, who said he was in the vehicle on the night Bradley was shot, claimed he was dropped off at a home while Bradley was still in the car. When he was later picked up again, he said Bradley was no longer there.
But under questioning from defense attorney Jose Baez, Crawford admitted he was high and drunk during the week of partying leading up to Bradley's shooting, and couldn't remember much, saying he was on "heavy drugs."
"My memory wasn't really clear," Crawford said on Tuesday.
Baez claimed police pressured Crawford into saying things he didn't remember, and made him piece together events from five different nights in Florida.
The prosecution and Judge Locke became frustrated with Crawford's testimony.
When asked how detectives pressured him into remembering some of his testimony, Crawford responded "I don't really know how to explain."
On the stand, Crawford constantly said he forgot what happened around the time of the shooting, and often whispered, drawing a reproach from Judge Locke.
"Mr. Crawford, your loss of memory shouldn't affect the volume of your voice," Locke said to Crawford.
Another Hernandez associate, Jer'elle Pierre, testified next. He was allegedly driving the car when Bradley was shot.
Baez and Locke had a testy exchange during the proceedings as the defense attorney challenged the prosecution's ability to get information from a Florida detective that they were unable to get from Pierre.
"You yell at me in front of the jury. You stand up, you look down at me and you said 'I know!,'" said Baez, adding that "You seem to cut off the defense."
"Mr. Baez I'd be happy to tell the jury and I'll tell anyone that I have the highest respect for the job you've done in this case," Locke responded.
Hernandez is already serving life in prison for the 2013 murder of Odin Lloyd.
The former NFL star's brother was expected to testify Tuesday, but is now unlikely to take the stand at all.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Bernice Corpuz reports
