The trial for former Fort Worth Police officer Aaron Dean, charged in the 2019 shooting of Atatiana Jefferson, has been delayed.
Initially, the trial was scheduled to begin in January, but it was pushed back to May 16 after the defense argued that two of their expert witnesses would not be available in January.
Judge David Hagerman approved the defense’s request. “This is not an indefinite delay but the court is of the opinion that denial of the defense’s motion for continuance would be an abuse of discretion and would result in an unfair trial and denial of the defendant’s rights under the 4th, 6th, and 14th amendments,” Judge Hagerman stated.
Aaron Dean’s defense team had also filed a motion requesting that the trial be held outside Tarrant County due to the publicity surrounding the case. Judge Hagerman did not rule on the request, but that motion is scheduled to be heard on May 2.
Atatiana Jefferson, 28, died on Oct. 12, 2019, after Aaron Dean allegedly shot her. Jefferson’s neighbors had called police to report that the front door of her residence was open. Fort Worth police responded to the call around 2:30 am.
Jefferson was shot in her home through a window overlooking her backyard. Next to her body, police discovered a handgun. Her nephew, who lived in the home, told police his aunt had taken the handgun out when she heard something outside the window.
Dean resigned the following day from the police force and was charged with the murder of Atatiana Jefferson, a pre-medical graduate student who was working in human resources at the time.