Thomas McDonnell:
One of the witness' sons were friends with AH growing up in Bristol, CT. McDonnell says AH was friendly with 'the whole family'. June 2013, witness had phone number for AH; says after 6/18/13 McDonnell says he received a phone call from Aaron - different number than he had saved for him. In his phone, witness had a pic of AH with his two sons in AH contact info.
Seeing printout of AH contact info in McDonnell's phone.
McDonnell recalls 5-min convo with AH on 6/18/13, didn't talk about too much, no mention of Lloyd or investigation. In the following days, McDonnell & AH exchanged texts, ordinary stuff, nothing out of ordinary.
McDonnell identifies a number he called for AH. It was for a Track phone.
We're looking at the witness' cell phone records and calls allegedly made to him by AH.
Jennifer Mercado; AH Cousin: (given immunity to testify; Sister is Tanya Singleton)
41, lives at 114 Lake Ave in Bristol - home was searched multiple times in connection with the Lloyd case. At Lake Ave house in Bristol, CT, Mercado says she lived with Tanya, her husband TL , and Ernest 'Bo' Wallace sometimes. Jennifer knew "Bo" from the time she was a young girl, knew him from around town in Bristol, Conn. Wallace would either stay "for a couple of days" or "a couple of weeks" with Mercado's family. Wallace met AH through TL Singleton. Wallace was like a brother to Tanya Singleton says the witness.
Mercado: AH & Ortiz went to school together, not sure how long they knew each other.
Mercado knows Carlos Ortiz from when Bo and TL brought him over to the house in 2012/2013
Mercado: Ortiz didn't stay over too often
State: Do you know what Ernest Wallace, or Bo or Fish, was doing for work? Mercado:I didnt know him to work at all
Mercado said Wallace was around her house during the days before Odin Lloyd's murder. On 6/16/13, Mercado recalls seeing Ortiz & Wallace at her house, saw them leaving in a silver vehicle. Wallace drove and Ortiz was a passenger. There was no one else with them. Mercado can't recall next time she saw Ortiz & Wallace.
Mercado said a few minutes ago she was in her room, doesn't remember Tanya/Ortiz/Wallace at her house 6/19/13. After reading a document to refresh her memory, Mercado says her memory was not refreshed about seeing Ortiz/Wallace/Tanya at her house on 6/19/13. Mercado saying she remembers Tanya telling her she was going down to Georgia. Mercado remembers Singleton had a "little backpack" and "clothes" for the trip to Georgia. Mercado says she cared for Tanya's kids for 3-4 days while Tanya was in Georgia. During 3 days Tanya was gone, Mercado says she was in phone contact with Tanya. Says Tanya's phone contact info changed. Mercado said she could hear Wallace's voice in the background of phone conversations.
We're looking at cell phone records showing calls between Mercado & Tanya on 6/23/13. Mercado identifies the number that Tanya Singleton called her on during her drive to Georgia.
While Tanya was away, Mercado tells McCauley she doesn't recall getting call from someone else besides Tanya. Mercado recalls discussing a text she receive, text gave her instructions, doesn't recall who she relayed message to. Mercado says Tanya was still away when she received text; says she forwarded text to Tanya.
Mercado didn't review her prior statements prior to testifying today, says her attorney has not given her prior statements. Mercado now says she remembers calling person back that sent text, doesn't recall who she spoke with.
Prosecutor: "Is there something that interferes with your memory? Witness says yes. "I have PTSD....and depression..." Mercado says her memory may be affected by medication.
Mercado says she relied on records during the grand jury. Her answers were based on information from records - not memory.
Mercado has no memory of talking to AH about getting money for her sister. Mercado admits she sent Wallace $180 in jail, said Tanya gave her the $ to give to Wallace. "Maybe a letter also." Mercado DOES remember getting letters from AH. She remembers there was money on her sisters "canteen."
State: Did the def tell you about getting money to your sister? Mercado: Yes
McCauley asking Mercado if Tanya told her what she was going to do at the grand jury in 2013. Mercado: Yes, Plead the 5th
Mercado says she told AH about Tanya being held in contempt, "She shouldn't be there"
State: What did he say to you about the situation of your sister being incarcerated? Mercado: Said she shouldn't be there
State: What did he say? I dont remember
McCauley: How can you not remember that conversation? Mercado: I don't remember (about Tanya's incarceration)
Mercado does remember AH saying Tanya's incarceration was BS.
State: What did AH ask u about your sister not answering questions at the grand jury? Mercado: I don't remember it was long time ago.
Do you know who Princess is? McCauley asks. Mercado says thats AH daughter Avielle.
Do you recall indicating that Princess had given you money? The child didnt give you money?
Who else was called Princess? Witness: Bo called Shayanna Jenkins princess. Mercado: Shayanna gave her money around time for kids to go to school. Tanya was still incarcerated. AH told Mercado he would help with money if he could through Shayanna, then also help put money on Tanya's canteen.
Mercado doesn't recall how many contacts she had with phone number that sent her text message. McCauley shows Mercado cell phone records for Track phone AH used after Lloyd murder. Mercado's phone number is listed on the AH Track phone records; shows call from AH on 6/24/13. She doesn't recall the contact. Mercado says she doesn't recall another phone call she received from AH Track phone.
These records show calls from AH Track phone to Mercado, but Mercado doesn't recall any of these calls.
Police conducted search warrant at Mercado's home in 2013, looking for items of clothes Wallace wore. (blue plaid shirt)
Looking at photos showing what Wallace wore on night of murder; blue flannel shirt, dark pants, he owned red sneakers. Mercado identifies Wallace in a still frame from surveillance footage taken from AH home. Police told her they wanted to speak with Wallace, Tanya, TL Singleton. Mercado says she didn't give the number she had for her sister because she didn't think about it at the time.
Mercado said Ortiz and Wallace would smoke marijuana, PCP and cocaine. She saw them smoke weed and PCP. Mercado is giving different answers now than she did in front of the grand jury when it comes to Ortiz/Wallace smoking PCP.
McCauley: is your memory better today than it was at grand jury (on Mercado's statement about Wallace/Ortiz doing drugs)
McCauley asking Mercado who else has she spoken to about case besides her attorney? Says she spoke to Tanya Singleton, her dad and Shayanna Jenkins about her testimony.
"Youre telling us that you know now theres alleged PCP in the cigar? What accounts for this new info today? pros. Asks
Mercado: Because I remember?
Mercado is now saying that she hasn't discussed the case with Tanya Singleton or Shayanna Jenkins. Mercado says she and Singleton don't talk about the case, even though they live together. "We just cry and say we miss him."
Mercado said she knew AH had cars. She said he had two. In June of 2013, she believes he had two cars.
On Cross:
AH would go with his dad to Mercado's house all the time growing up. Tanya Singleton was there. Mercado said she was team mom at one point for AH football games - "bring fruit, pass out the waters" When Dennis Hernandez, father of AH, died in January 2006, AH and Tanya became closer.
Mercado tells Rankin Tanya left her ex-husband after he had affair with AHs mother. AH and his mom became estranged after this, and AH became very close to Tanya and sometimes lived w/ them. When AH went to Univ of Fla to play football, Tanya would go visit him with her son Jano. During breaks in college year, AH would go back home to visit family in Bristol, CT. Rankin now asking Mercado about alleged drug use by Ortiz and Wallace. Rankin asks how she knew Wallace was a drug user. Ive seen him high before. Mercado says marijuana has herbal smell, where PCP has a more 'plastic' type smell. Mercado says she observed both Wallace and Ortiz high. She observed it from the odors in the spring of 2013. Mercado says Bo and Charlie Boy would sweat and act jittery when they were high off PCP.
Mercado remembering some key details here on cross, like Ortiz having a white towel/wash cloth around his neck in June '13
Mercado basically says AH would frequently give money to Tanya Singleton for her children. Was asked about her sisters illness.
She has stage 4 breast cancer.
Re-Direct:
First question: Do you know about a trust fund? Mercado: No.
(AH jailhouse phone call says he opened trust fund for Tanyas two kids). Mercado asked if she knows about it, says no.
McCauley: Were other people smoking? Mercado: Yes McCauley: And Aaron Hernandez? Mercado: He would smoke marijuana.
Mercado knows AH would smoke marijuana, sometimes in den area/outside her house. Witness admits she's never knew for sure what was in cigars/blunts that the men smoked. McCauley asked Mercado how many times she smelled plastic smell when Wallace smoked. She says maybe 10 times.
Mercado says she chose the words "jittery" and "crazy." McCauley is insinuating that she got it from watching the trial. Witness says she never saw testimony of Irene SIngleton. But state notes she used the same words.
Prosecutor queuing up surveillance video, likely to argue against Ortiz/Wallace behaving 'jittery' and crazy on 6/16/13. Now we're seeing some video from the night of the murder in HA's driveway, around midnight.
McCauley: is their behavior consistent with (erratic behavior)? Mercado: they acted jittery, walked back and forth, erratic.
