Duval County Judge London Kite and attorneys for the state and defense selected 12 jurors and four alternate jurors for the murder trial of Mario Fernandez-Saldana.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — After nearly a week of proceedings narrowing a field of more than 250 potential jurors, a jury has been selected for the murder trial of Mario Fernandez-Saldana, accused in the killing St. Augustine father of four Jared Bridegan in 2022.
Duval County Judge London Kite and attorneys for both the state and defense selected 12 jurors and four alternate jurors Thursday afternoon. The jury includes nine women and seven men. Opening statements in the murder trial will begin Monday, Aug. 17, at 9 a.m.
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The selection comes after more than three days of proceedings.
State prosecutors and defense attorneys for Fernandez-Saldana narrowed the field by asking potential jurors questions on their previous knowledge of the high-profile case.
Assistant State Attorney Alan Mizrahi asked about jurors’ backgrounds and whether they had any negative experiences with law enforcement Wednesday.
Mizrahi also asked each person to give their most controversial belief.
“I want you to think about a belief that you have in your heart, in your soul, in your mind, that most people in the world disagree with,” Mizrahi said.
While the attorneys were not allowed to discuss the facts of the case, Mizrahi could ask questions related to the case. He asked if anyone was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints, of which Jared Bridegan was a member. He also wanted to know if anyone used a company owned by Shanna Gardner’s family.
“Next question has to do with something that may come up during the course of this case. There’s a company and corporation called ‘Stampin Up.’ It’s a craft company, you order on the internet. I have no idea, I don’t order crafts on the internet. It seems to be very popular. Has anyone here regularly bought from that company or has any knowledge of it?” Mizrahi asked.
The state finished their questioning Wednesday and the defense asked potential jurors questions Thursday. Jesse Dreicer, Fernandez-Saldana’s attorney, asked questions centering around whether the jurors could presume his client’s innocence.
“Do you think Mr. Fernandez has done anything wrong?” Dreicer asked a potential juror.
Fernandez-Saldana is charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in Bridegan’s death. The father of four was shot and killed on Feb. 16, 2022, with his then-two-year-old daughter in the car after dropping off his other two kids with his ex-wife, Shanna Gardner.
Gardner is also charged with murder in Bridegan’s death. She will go to trial on Sept. 7.