FORT WORTH, Texas — At a hearing Tuesday morning, a judge scheduled the murder trial of former Fort Worth police officer Aaron Dean for January.
Dean was charged with murder after fatally shooting Atatiana Jefferson, a 28-year-old Black woman, through a window while responding to a call about doors being open at her home in October 2019. Jefferson was playing video games with her 8-year-old nephew when she thought she heard a prowler in the back yard, grabbed a handgun, and looked out the window, authorities have said. Dean, who is white, did not identify himself as a police officer and shot Jefferson within seconds, according to body-camera video.
Jury selection is scheduled to begin Jan. 4, with the trial beginning Jan. 10, Judge David Hagerman said at Tuesday’s hearing in Tarrant County’s 297th District Court.
The judge indicated a change of venue motion is expected to be filed. That and any other motions in the case will be heard the week of Dec. 6. The deadline for attorneys to file motions in the case is Nov. 30.
Pressure has been mounting in the community for a trial date to be set more than two years after Jefferson’s death. The earliest the case could have been tried was Nov. 29. Prosecutors said Tuesday that they are ready for trial, but defense attorneys said they are not.
Judge David Hagerman set the trial for former Fort Worth officer Aaron Dean for Jan. 10, 2022. Dean was charged with murder after fatally shooting Atatiana Jefferson, a 28-year-old Black woman, while responding to a call at her home in October 2019.By Marcus Dorsey
Hagerman, who has more than 50 cases on his docket, said he will continue to follow the state’s code of criminal procedure, which explains how trials should be prioritized.
“We’re supposed to be trying to the oldest cases first, which is what we’re going to do,” he said. The code also prioritizes trials for defendants who are in jail, which Dean is not.
Hagerman said he’s “not unmindful” of the priorities surrounding Dean’s case.
“It needs to be tried because it’s been pending for a while,” the judge said.
Dean declined comment as he left the courtroom. The judge has issued a gag order in the case.
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