JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The man accused of conspiring to kill his wife in an alleged murder-for-hire plot pleaded not guilty to three felony charges during his arraignment hearing Wednesday.
Jerry Burns is charged with second-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and solicitation to commit capital felony in relation to his wife, Velvet Burns’ death.
MURDER FOR HIRE: The man accused of conspiring to kill his wife pleaded not guilty today.
— Elizabeth Pace (@PaceAnJax) June 26, 2019
Jerry Burns is charged with:
-second-degree murder
-conspiracy to commit murder
-solicitation to commit capital felony
New info we learned in court NEXT on @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/Tv99Lmc8sS
Family of the accused and victim were present in court Wednesday. Their attorney declined to make any comment about the case.
On May 8, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said police officers found Velvet Burns stabbed to death inside her home along Doris Lane on Jacksonville’s westside.
Her husband and his mistress, Amanda Love, were accused of hiring hitmen to kill Burns.
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Investigators said Burns paid Love $5,000 dollars to drive hitmen to his house and kill his wife. They believe he promised to pay them more after her death with her life insurance money.
Burns and Love are each charged with second-degree murder. However, Love was charged with a new crime nearly two months after Velvet was found dead.
Online jail records show Love is charged with failure to comply with school attendance law and contributing to child delinquency.
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