Shayanna Jenkins, Aaron Hernandez: Girlfriend May Not Be Able to Marry
Aaron Hernandez may not be able marry his girlfriend, Shayanna Jenkins.
The former Patriots player was looking to marry the mother of his 7-month-old daughter while in jail pending trail on first-degree murder charges.
Some believe that Hernandez, who is currently being held in the Bristol County jail, is trying to use marriage as a legal tool. If he were to wed Jenkins, then she would be able to refuse to testify against him in court, according to Massachusetts's law.
"A spouse shall not be compelled to testify in the trial of an indictment, complaint, or other criminal proceeding brought against the other spouse," the law states, according to NBC Sports.
Bristol Country Sheriff Thomas Hodgson is against the possible union.
"I don't subscribe to that. I feel that those rights are things that you access on the outside, if you're a good citizen," Hodgson said, according to the USA Today. "We'll do everything we can to not have that happen."
Jenkins had reportedly been cooperating with the police investigation until Hernandez phoned her from jail and told her to stop, reports NBC Sports. There is also a fear that the NFL player will intimidate her into not cooperating and not testifying should they be married.
Apparently the two have a history of domestic disputes. TMZ reports that police were called several times to the couples home in Hermosa Beach, Calif. last year due to neighbors calling about the pairs fighting. However, Jenkins never pressed charges.
