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The former Texas police officer charged with the 2019 shooting death of Atatiana Jefferson will not stand trial for at least another six month, a judge ruled this week.
Defense attorneys for Aaron Dean earlier this month filed multiple motions in the trial which had already been delayed –– including yet another request to delay the trial proceedings further.
According to WFAA, Dean's legal team argued that two "essential witnesses" would be unavailable in December to prepare for the case and would be –– due to scheduling conflicts –– unable participate in testimony at the schedule January 10, 2022 trial start date.
Judge David Hagerman granted the trial delay request Wednesday (December 15), noting that the proceedings might not begin now until May 16, 2022.
Jefferson was shot and killed in her own home on October 12, 2019 after Dean fired through a back window while the 28-year-old played video games with her nephew. A neighbor had called the non-emergency police hotline to request a wellness check after noticing the door of Jefferson's door was ajar.
Dean faces murder charges for the shooting. An arrest warrant states Dean did not announce himself as a police officer at the time of the shooting.
On Thursday (December 16), civil rights attorney Lee Merritt tweeted that Amber Carr, Jefferson's sister, was hospitalized and listed in critical condition due to a chronic heart condition.
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