The trial for the high-profile murder case involving Shanna Gardner and Mario Fernandez has been delayed to August 2026. Gardner and her estranged husband, Fernandez, are facing charges related to the 2022 killing of Gardner’s ex-husband, Jared Bridegan. As reported by News4Jax, during a pretrial hearing on Thursday, the judge overseeing the case, Judge London Kite, acceded to a request from the defense attorneys to push the trial date to Aug. 3, 2026.
This decision came after considering extensive logistical preparations, including the prospect to have up to 500 potential jurors for jury selection due to the case’s notoriety and the separate juries required for Gardner and Fernandez. According to First Coast News, Judge Kite also took into account the length of the trial, which is expected to exceed six weeks, including a Penalty Phase. Jury selection alone is predicted to last a week.
Originally set for October 2025, the trial has garnered significant media attention as it involves a murder-for-hire plot against Bridegan. Gardner and Fernandez stand accused of commissioning Henry Tenon, who rented a house from Fernandez, for the murder of Bridegan. Action News Jax reports that Tenon has agreed to testify against the accused pair…