Hernandez’s fiancée takes the stand

By: Melissa Randall
mrandall@abc6.com
@MRandallABC6

Shayanna Jenkins took the witness stand Friday in the murder trial of her fiancé, Aaron Hernandez. The 25–year–old was granted immunity, but is also charged with perjury for lying to the grand jury.

On Friday Jenkins changed her testimony about removing a black box from the man cave at Hernandez’s request in the days following the murder of Odin Lloyd. She was seen in home security video carrying a large trash bag.

“You were also asked whether you had taken certain steps to cover or conceal or hide the box when you removed it from the home,” asked prosecutors. “Yes,” she replied. “And do you recall doing that?” they pushed. “Yes,” testified Jenkins.

Prosecutors also asked her about seeing a gun in the kitchen junk drawer prior to the shooting. They showed her a model of a Glock .45 to compare it to. Lloyd was shot to death with a .45 caliber gun. The murder weapon was never found.

“Is this similar or dissimilar to what you observed?” pressed prosecutors. “Shape yes,” responded Jenkins. She also agreed it was the same color, but was not certain of the size. Jenkins says she had a conversation with Hernandez about it being in the home but did not reveal the contents of that exchange.

Jenkins described the Hernandez and Lloyd’s relationship as friendly and testified Lloyd gave her fiancé pot. Jenkins was also asked about her relationship with her sister, Shaneah, who was dating Lloyd at the time of his murder. She said they are ‘estranged.’

Jenkins also testified about asking Hernandez about the murder saying “I asked him if he did it and he said no. That was the extent of our conversation.”

Prosecutors asked Jenkins about a $500 withdrawal made from an ATM in East Greenwich, Rhode Island. She says Hernandez told her to take out the money and give it to his co-defendant Ernest Wallace.

Also on Friday a juror was dismissed for personal reasons.

Shayanna will be back on the witness stand Monday.

© WLNE-TV 2015