Longtime Etan Patz murder suspect might not testify

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.

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.

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.

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.

Hernandez gave police and prosecutors a full confession to the crime in 2012, which prosecutors argue is a reliable and key piece of evidence.

Hernandez's lawyers contend hes mentally ill and was coached into confessing.

Jury selection is slated to begin Jan. 5.

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Longtime Etan Patz murder suspect might not testify