Former Louisville Police Department Officer Brett Hankinson will reportedly ask for his trial to be moved to a new venue. Hankinson's lawyer, Stew Matthews, will file a motion regarding the matter within the next two weeks. The Courier-Journal has reported that a defendant can ask for a trail to be moved "if it appears that the defendant or the state cannot have a fair trial in the county where the prosecution is pending." Furthermore, a judge can move a trial "to the most convenient county in which a fair trial can be had" if they are unable to do so in the immediate area.
Hankinson is being prosecuted for his involvement in the shooting of Breonna Taylor on March 13, 2020. Initially, reports suggested that Hankinson may be charged for shooting and killing Taylor. However, he was charged with wanton endangerment for firing into Taylor's neighbor's apartments. The other two officers involved, Jonathan Mattingly and Myles Cosgrove, were not charged.
In the aftermath of Taylor's death, protests erupted across the country in a historic fashion. Ultimately, Hankinson was fired from the police department along with Myles Cosgrove and Detective Joshua Jaynes, who were responsible for acquiring the search warrant for the apartment. The police department also launched an internal investigation.
Hankinson is expected to appear in court for trial on August 31 in Jefferson County. The judge presiding over the case has not yet commented on the possibility of moving the trial to a new location.
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