According to prosecutor Alan Mizrahi, Jerry Burns agreed to pay $50,000 to his mistress, Amanda Love, to hire someone to murder his wife. That someone happened to be Love’s longtime on-again, off-again partner, Stephen Hand.

Opening statements began Wednesday in the trial of a Jacksonville man accused of working with his mistress to hire someone to murder his wife in 2019.

Opening statements began Wednesday in the trial of a Jacksonville man accused of working with his mistress to hire someone to murder his wife in 2019.

A grand jury has returned first-degree murder charges in three high-profile Jacksonville cases, including two suspects charged in a 2019 murder-for-hire killing.

Amanda Love, 31, along with the victim's husband, 50-year-old Jerry Burns, were arrested after Velvet Burns was found dead May 9 in the couple's Westside home. According to Love's police arrest report, she hired two men who were told they'd get more money when Jerry Burns collected on his wife's life insurance. Jerry Burns is also in jail, charged with second-degree murder. WATCH: Man, 37, arrested in murder-for-hire | Police make 3rd arrest in murder-for-hireNews4Jax learned that Hand and Love were engaged at one point and that Hand is the father of three of Love's five children. A neighbor recalled Wednesday what Velvet Burns (pictured, right) was like.

Amanda Love, 31, along with the victim's husband, Jerry Burns, 50, were arrested after Velvet Burns was found dead May 9 in the couple's Westside home. According to Love's police arrest report, she hired two men who were told they'd get more money when Jerry Burns collected on his wife's life insurance. Crystal Strickland told News4Jax at the time that Velvet Burns (pictured, right) was her best friend. She said she found Velvet Burns' body and immediately called police when she saw the back door of the home was left open. Strickland said Velvet and Jerry Burns were together for 27 years and known as a hardworking couple.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - A woman pleaded guilty to second-degree murder Tuesday in the killing of her boyfriend's wife. Amanda Love, 31, along with Jerry Burns, 50, were arrested after Velvet Burns was found dead May 9 in the couple's Westside home. WATCH: JSO briefing on murder-for-hire arrests |More arrests expected in murder of womanCrystal Strickland told News4Jax at the time that Velvet Burns (pictured, right) was her best friend. She said she found Velvet Burns' body and immediately called police when she saw the backdoor of the home was left open. Strickland said Velvet and Jerry Burns were together for 27 years and known as a hardworking couple.