JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Shanna Gardner was formally charged with murder in the death of her ex-husband Jared Bridegan Friday. High-profile attorney Jose Baez is representing Gardner, and he says she is innocent.
The judge says moving forward both Gardner and her second husband Mario Fernandez Saldana will be tried together, and all future court hearings will be together. Baez says he wants them tried separately.
"If there's something that paints Fernandez to it and they're both seated at the table, she looks guilty sitting next to Mario," First Coast News Crime and Safety Expert Mark Baughman said.
First Coast News Crime and Safety Expert Mark Baughman says there is evidence both Gardner and Fernandez played a role in Bridegan's murder.
"It could be telephone information, cell tracking information, it could be ballistics, it could be interviews. It could be CCTV video footage, which we know that exists," Baughman said.
Baez says his team is now going through seven terabytes worth of discovery evidence, and a list of 100 potential witnesses by the state. Attorney Shannon Schott, who is not connected to the case, says if Gardner and Fernandez are tried together, this means they will get their own juries.
"Shanna Gardner will have her jury, and Mario Fernandez will have his jury and their attorneys will be making objections and asking to do things outside of the presence of their respective juries. In some cases, that means that both juries will be dismissed if this case is tried together. In other cases, you might have one jury that remains in the courtroom and another jury that stays out of the courtroom," Attorney Shannon Schott said. "Both of them are at this point in fighting for their life and they and their attorneys are trying to come up with the best way to avoid the death penalty."
Schott says the Duval County courthouse is equipped to have two juries in one case.
Baez has served on the defense for high-profile cases like Casey Anthony and Aaron Hernandez.
"He's a good attorney. He's going to cross every T and dot every I. He's really good on direct examination. I've watched him and he's very good on cross too," Baughman said.
The earliest this case could go to trial is in April.
"As a Criminal Defense Attorney, I can tell you one piece of leverage in any case is going to be a speedy trial and forcing the case to prove it within that six month period. It can be detrimental to the state, but it can also be detrimental to your own case," Schott said.
Gardner and Fernandez will be back in court on December 1. The earliest this case could go to trial is in April.