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Jury selection began Monday in the murder trial of former Fort Worth officer Aaron Dean a day after the death of the ex-cop’s defense attorney Jim Lane.
Dean stands trial for the deadly 2019 shooting of Atatiana Jefferson in her family’s Fort Worth home. Testimony is set to start next week inside the Tarrant County courthouse.
State District Judge George Gallagher said this was not a typical case because of the media attention it received, KXAS-TV (NBC5) reported. The judge asked the jury pool to raise their hands if they’d read or seen news coverage of the case: A majority of the nearly 200 prospective jurors said they had, The Fort Worth Star-Telegram said.
Each potential juror also filled out a 25-page questionnaire and will come back for individual questioning. A 12-person jury and alternates are expected to be chosen by Thursday or Friday, according to the Star-Telegram.
Jefferson, 28, was fatally shot after a neighbor called a nonemergency line to request a welfare check because the front door was open and lights were on early in the morning of Oct. 12. Jefferson was staying at her mother’s house at the time with her 8-year-old nephew.
Body-camera footage shows Dean walked around Jefferson’s house and entered the fenced yard. Dean turned to face a window, yelled at Jefferson, who was inside, to put up her hands and fired a single shot in a matter of seconds.
Jefferson’s nephew told officials his aunt had grabbed a handgun and pointed it toward the window because she heard noises outside.
Authorities have said Dean failed to identify himself as a police officer before fatally shooting Jefferson.
Dean’s lawyers have petitioned to move the trial out of Tarrant County. Gallagher, the judge, said he will wait to see how jury selection progresses before ruling on the defense’s motion, the Star-Telegram reported.
On Monday, Dean’s attorneys asked the judge to stop Jefferson’s neighbor, James Smith, from holding up a large sign with Jefferson’s picture outside of the courthouse, the Star-Telegram said.
The murder trial has been delayed several times, including once over lead defense attorney Lane’s health. He died Sunday at age 78. It’s unclear if or how his death will affect the timing of the trial.
A state district judge, who previously oversaw the case, signaled to Dean’s defense team they should be ready to defend the former officer with or without Lane.
As a longtime lawyer, Lane was known for representing police and soldiers accused of misconduct. He also served on Fort Worth city council and helped make the Fort Worth Stockyards what it is today. Fort Worth Police Officers’ Association President Manny Ramirez, who announced Lane’s death on Twitter, said his impact “will be felt for generations in Fort Worth and Tarrant County.”