JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Shanna Gardner and Mario Fernandez appeared back-to-back in the same Duval County courtroom Friday morning, but how long will that be the case?
The state intends to have Gardner and Fernandez stand trial together for the murder of Jared Bridegan. Already, the two defendants appeared drastically different in court.
While Fernandez walked into the courtroom in a prisoner's jumpsuit and shackles, Gardner had plain clothes, which her attorney Jose Baez said was by design.
"She's presumed innocent and she's innocent at this time," said Baez after Gardner and Fernandez's pre-trial hearing on Friday. "She should be dressed like everyone else, so she's treated like everyone else."
However, not everyone else faces the death penalty. Baez did not say if he will file a motion to move the trial out of Jacksonville, but told First Coast News that many potential jurors have already heard a slanted view of his client.
"My biggest challenge is to un-ring the bell," Baez said. "What I've seen so far, Ms. Gardner has not had a lot of positive publicity and there have been many statements made about her without having the ability to respond."
His defense of Gardner has been in a holding pattern since access to evidence was cut off on Nov. 15 due to an attorney-client privilege issue with her co-defendant and second husband, Mario Fernandez, which led to more questions for Baez.
"We're still trying to understand why our client is in jail," Baez said. "To date, a theory and a story is simply not enough, you need evidence and we have yet to see anything that justifies Ms. Gardner being incarcerated at this time."
Gardner's next court date in the murder case of her first husband Jared Bridegan is Feb. 2, 2024. She pleaded not guilty to multiple charges last month on Nov. 3, 2023.