Jurors are not likely to see longtime Etan Patz murder suspect Jose Ramos at the upcoming trial of Pedro Hernandez the person charged with the notorious crime. <\/p>\n
A Manhattan judge indicated he wont let Ramos, a convicted pedophile who was dating Patz's babysitter in 1979 when the 6-year-old went missing, take the stand at Hernandezs murder trial if he plans to invoke his Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination. <\/p>\n
Ramos lawyer said he would. <\/p>\n
It seems to be if the witness chooses to take the Fifth, that's it I just don't see that happening, Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Maxwell Wiley said. <\/p>\n
Hernandez's attorneys Harvey Fishbein and Alice Fontier can still present evidence relating to Ramos's history as a suspect in Patz's disappearance, including a 1988 statement in which he discusses his relationship to the sitter, the judge has said. <\/p>\n
Ramos who was transferred last week from a Pennsylvania prison to New York City as a material witness for the impending trial is expected to be brought to court on Tuesday to formally be asked about his willingness to testify. <\/p>\n
Hernandez gave police and prosecutors a full confession to the crime in 2012, which prosecutors argue is a reliable and key piece of evidence. <\/p>\n
Hernandez's lawyers contend hes mentally ill and was coached into confessing. <\/p>\n
Jury selection is slated to begin Jan. 5. <\/p>\n
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Longtime Etan Patz murder suspect might not testify<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Jurors are not likely to see longtime Etan Patz murder suspect Jose Ramos at the upcoming trial of Pedro Hernandez the person charged with the notorious crime. A Manhattan judge indicated he wont let Ramos, a convicted pedophile who was dating Patz's babysitter in 1979 when the 6-year-old went missing, take the stand at Hernandezs murder trial if he plans to invoke his Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination. Ramos lawyer said he would Continue reading