http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2014/08/22/aaron-hernandez-fiancee-asks-judge-to-throw-out-perjury-charges/
Today, news stations reported that Aaron Hernandez's fiancé, Shayanna Jenkins, asked a judge to dismiss charges alleging that she lied in court when asked over 1630 questions. Aaron Hernandez is a former NFL player who is currently being held without bail because he was indicted on three murder charges.
My question to the class would be: do we think any of the allegations surrounding Ms. Jenkins perjury are related to the fact that she is a young African American woman engaged to a professional athlete? I could see a jury unfairly stereotyping her as a lying "gold-digging" type, and therefore, automatically expecting her to lie under oath when on the stand. Is she unfairly accused because of her race? Would it be different if her fiancé was not a former professional athlete? Would the media even be covering this if he was not?
I read about this and honestly that maybe a true assessment. However, I think the nature of the crime maybe the reason why the perjury charges are being pursued. So often athletes are accused on DUI, gun, or other drug charges and their significant other supports them by lying. However, due to the nature of the charges there is nothing held against the significant other.
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