The judge in the Aaron Hernandez murder trial issued an ultimatum to TV station WHDH-TV, after they were accused of following two jurors outside the courthouse. The judge had previously issued a written order that no one shall approach, follow, contact, harass, photograph or take down the license plates of jurors.
The deliberating jurors alerted Judge Susan Garsh Thursday morning that they were followed by a pair of reporters working for Boston station WHDH-TV. The judge then held a special hearing, giving the station until 12:15 p.m. to have the driver or a higher-up testify about what happened or face being held in contempt.
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Garsh said it was a serious matter and a felony and could have resulted in a mistrial. The station didn’t immediately return phone and email messages from The Associated Press seeking comment.
“I’d like the person in the van to tell me whether anyone in the company directed him,” Garsh said. If the driver wants to assert his Fifth Amendment right not to testify, “At a minimum I want someone from the company to say what investigation they’ve done,” she said. foxsports
Judge Garsh said if that did not happen, she had no choice but to draw the inference that he was directed by the station to follow the jurors.
UPDATE: The judge banned WHDH photog, Robert Cusanelli.
