JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jury selection has begun in the trial of Mario Fernandez-Saldana, one of the defendants charged in connection with the killing of Jared Bridegan.
Bridegan, a father of four, was shot and killed in 2022. Prosecutors say Fernandez-Saldana and Bridegan’s ex-wife, Shanna Gardner, were involved in an alleged murder-for-hire scheme targeting him.
The first phase of jury selection opened Monday, with 100 prospective jurors called into the courtroom. Fernandez-Saldana, dressed in a suit, was present for the proceedings. He greeted potential jurors as they entered but otherwise remained silent.
The jury pool was divided into two groups. Group One included people who reported scheduling issues, personal hardships or previous knowledge of the case. Those individuals were questioned separately in a room with Judge London Kite, attorneys and Fernandez-Saldana. Members of the media, including First Coast News reporters, were initially barred from that room, but after First Coast News objected, the station’s attorney successfully argued that reporters should be allowed to observe the questioning.
During the individual questioning, prospective jurors were asked about their conflicts and, in cases where they were familiar with the case, whether they could remain fair and impartial. Several people who acknowledged prior knowledge of the case were dismissed.
Prospective jurors who were not excused were instructed to complete a questionnaire. They are scheduled to return to court Wednesday for the second phase of the jury selection process.
