FALL RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS – The girlfriend of former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez has been indicted on a perjury charge in connection with the killing of his friend, a Massachusetts prosecutor said Friday, bringing to five the number of people facing charges in the case.
A grand jury indicted Shayanna Jenkins, 24, on a single count in relation to the investigation into the June 17 killing of Odin Lloyd, Bristol County District Attorney Samuel Sutter said.
It wasn’t clear what led to the charge. Sutter’s spokesman, Gregg Miliote, said he could not comment until her arraignment, which has not been set.
Lloyd, a 27-year-old semiprofessional football player from Boston, was found shot to death in an industrial park in North Attleborough, Massachusetts, near Hernandez’s home, where Jenkins also lives. Lloyd had been dating Jenkins’ sister.
Jenkins was not arrested and will be ordered to appear in court for an arraignment, the prosecutor’s office said. She and Hernandez have a young child together.
Hernandez has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and weapons charges in Lloyd’s death and is being held without bail. His attorneys have said the state won’t be able to prove its case during a jury trial and that Hernandez will be exonerated.
Prosecutors say Hernandez killed Lloyd because he was upset with him for talking to some people at a nightclub with whom he had had problems.
Prosecutors said as recently as Thursday that the investigation was ongoing, the grand jury was continuing to hear evidence and that more charges could be coming.
In addition to Hernandez and his girlfriend, three others face charges in the case. Hernandez associate Ernest Wallace has pleaded not guilty to being an accessory to murder after the fact.
Praise from Harbaugh
AP
The San Francisco 49ers turned a short week of negative energy into their first blowout victory of the season.
The Niners responded to a two-game losing streak and the loss of four key defensive players by dominating the St. Louis Rams 35-11 on Thursday night.
Coach Jim Harbaugh on Friday praised the way his 2-2 team responded against the Rams and to the criticism they faced during a tumultuous stretch that included lopsided losses against Seattle and Indianapolis — San Francisco’s first back-to-back defeats since he took over as coach in 2011.
“You want that response,” Harbaugh said. “I thought the team stared adversity in the face (with) a lot of grit and determination. The guys played with great energy and great toughness.”
It was a much-needed bounce-back effort by the 49ers after they had been outscored a combined 56-10 by the Seahawks and Colts. San Francisco also was playing for the first time this season without All-Pro linebackers Patrick Willis and Aldon Smith, who has left the team indefinitely to deal with personal issues after being arrested earlier this month.
“Energy is energy,” Harbaugh said. “There’s positive energy, there’s negative energy. Sometimes a person can get more energy from negative energy. Sometimes that can be a gift. Thank you very much. As long as all is said against us, you feel a certain assurance of success.”
The 49ers got back to their standard formula for success against St. Louis with a relentless rushing offense and unyielding rushing defense. San Francisco had struggled in both areas the previous two weeks.
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