JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Shanna Gardner, the ex-wife of St. Augustine father Jared Bridegan, appeared in court Friday to be arraigned. She is facing first-degree murder charges and child abuse charges for her alleged role in a plot to kill Bridegan, a scheme prosecutors insist was planned by Gardner and her co-defendants.
The state is seeking the death penalty in this case.
Gardner, pleaded not guilty during the arraignment in a Duval County courtroom.
Her new attorney, Jose Baez, appeared alongside her for the first time in public. Baez has served on the defense for multiple high-profile cases, including the Casey Anthony trial, Aaron Hernandez's second trial and the recent trial of rapper Tory Lanez, appeared alongside her for the first time in public.
"She's going through an obvious difficult time," Jose Baez said Friday. "She's never experienced anything like this contrary to what some people may believe based on what they heard in court today. She's never been in trouble with the law before and to be charged with something so horrific and so serious where the government is trying, for all intents and purposes, to kill you, it would rattle anyone, she's certainly no exception."
Effort to try Gardner separately
Currently Gardner and her second husband Mario Fernandez will be tried together for the murder of Jared Bridegan; something that Baez is not in favor of.
"I think everybody should have their day in court and that day should be individual and specific to them," said Baez.
In order to have that, Shannon Schott, a partner with Plata Schott Law, said that Baez will likely have to file a Motion to Sever.
"The court would weigh whether or not it would be in the interest of justice for the two parties to have separate trials," said Schott, "it would happen during an evidentiary hearing."
Currently Baez and his team are reading through 7 terabytes worth of discovery evidence provided by the state including a list of 100 potential witnesses.
"I'm absolutely certain without an inkling of doubt that there's not going to be 100 witnesses in this case," said Baez, "and our government can burn a lot of paper, so that's where the 7 terabytes probably comes from."
Gardner is charged with first degree murder, but Henry Tenon has already pleaded guilty to being the person who pulled the trigger to kill Bridegan. Schott believes that could come into play during a joint trial as part of Baez's defense.
"From a strategy standpoint you'd want to see your defendant allow you to make an argument that makes the other person more culpable to literally save their life," said Schott, "when your case is completely circumstantial there's a lot of pressure on the attorneys to help their client see reason to avoid a death penalty."
After court on Friday, Baez was asked directly how his client will avoid the death penalty.
"Well, she's innocent," said Baez.