DALLAS — Jury selection is due to begin Monday in the murder trial of former Fort Worth police officer Aaron Dean, following death of defense attorney Jim Lane.
WFAA-TV (Channel 8) reported jury selection, which had been slated for the morning, was postponed until after 1 p.m. local time Monday inside the Tarrant County courthouse.
Lane died Sunday at age 78. He was the lead attorney for Dean, who is facing a murder charge over the 2019 shooting of Atatiana Jefferson.
Jefferson, 28, was fatally shot after a neighbor called a non-emergency line to request a welfare check on her mother’s home, where she was staying, because the front door was open and lights were on early in the morning of Oct. 12.
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 8-year-old 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.
The murder trial has been delayed several times, including once over Lane’s health. Testimony is scheduled to begin next week, but it’s unclear if or how Lane’s death will affect the timing of the trial.
A state district judge, who previously oversaw the case, signaled to Dean’s defense team it 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.”
———
