During a pre-trial hearing on Wednesday for former Fort Worth Police Officer Aaron Dean, his defense team again asked for his murder trial to be moved out of Fort Worth.
Dean’s legal team has continuously argued that their client cannot receive a fair trial due to widespread media coverage of the shooting of Atatiana Jefferson.
They say it makes it impossible for their client to receive a fair trial. Similar motions to ask for a change in venue have been denied in the past.
Jefferson’s family and friends gathered for the Wednesday pre-trial hearing in the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center in Fort Worth.
Prosecutors told the judge they needed time to review the filing because they were unprepared for it.
The defense made their case for a change in venue by continuing to play news clips since their last motion was denied.
Dean’s defense team claimed that the pre-trial publicity has been extensive, adding that the publicity has been prejudicial and inflammatory against their client.
“Influential persons in the county have instigated a dangerous combination against Mr. Dean by reason of which Mr. Dean cannot expect a fair trial in Tarrant County for this case,” Dean’s attorneys argued.
The filling mentions former Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price, former Fort Worth Police Chief Ed Kraus, and the current criminal district attorney of Tarrant County, Sharen Wilson.
“The comments of these persons expressed their opinion that Mr. Dean is guilty of murder and that there is no justification for the act of Mr. Dean,” the defense claimed.
Lee Merritt, Jefferson’s family attorney, is also cited in the motion for comments he made. He was also under a gag order at the time, as well as statements made by several community activists.
In a previous attempt to get a venue change, it was denied by Judge David Hagerman, who was later removed from the case after Dean’s attorneys argued he was biased against their client.
Dean is accused of murdering 28-year-old Atatiana Jefferson at her mother’s home in October 2019.