Aaron Dean Trial Day 8: Live updates
FORT WORTH, Texas (CBSDFW.COM) — After being found guilty of manslaughter in the 2019 shooting death of Atatiana Jefferson, former Fort Worth police officer Aaron Dean will now face sentencing.
On Thursday afternoon, Dean stood quietly listening as Judge George Gallagher read the jury's decision.
"We the jury find the defendant Aaron York Dean guilty of the offense of manslaughter"
Prosecutors and defense lawyers closed their cases Tuesday, just one day after Dean took the stand.
During the five days of testimony, both sides called experts in police procedure as their last witnesses, to either defend or condemn Dean's actions when he shot Jefferson.
Tuesday afternoon, Gallagher said attorneys were finalizing jury instructions. During jury selection Gallagher told potential jurors he may consider a lesser included offense of manslaughter for them to consider but it wasn't clear at the end of the day if he would do that.
But by Wednesday, Dec. 14, Gallagher told the jury they had two charges to consider—murder or manslaughter.
A murder conviction would have come with a sentence of five to 99 years or life in prison. Instead, Dean faces two to 20 with the possibility of just probation.
Dean's sentencing phase will be streamed live on CBS News Dallas-Fort Worth.
A full timeline of the events leading up to the trial can also be found here.
Court ends for the day
3:50 p.m. - Court ends for the day
The trial is going to extend into another week but the penalty phase is done for the day. Both sides closed, so expect closings and deliberation on his sentence Monday.
Evidence is done for the day
3:35 p.m. – Judge Gallagher is done listening to evidence for the day and has sent the jury back to the jury room.
He is now talking to lawyers.
Atatiana Jefferson's sister takes the stand
3:21 p.m. – Ashley Carr, sister of Atatiana Jefferson, takes the witness stand again.
Dean's sister takes the stand
3:10 p.m. – Dean's sister, Alyssa Dean, also a police officer, takes the stand.
Dean's brother takes the stand
3:02 p.m. – Dean's brother, Adam Dean, takes the stand.
Man taken into custody inside courtroom
2:49 p.m. — Judge Gallagher called self-proclaimed citizen journalist Manuel Mata in as a witness to which Mata opposed. Gallagher asked if he had any active bonds, to which Mata said yes. The judge immediately revoked his bonds.
Mata was then handcuffed and taken outside of the courtroom.
Dean's mother takes the stand
2:31 p.m. — The defense presents Dean's mother Donna Dean as character witness. She's now on the stand.
Court back in session
1:52 p.m. — Court is now back in session and Gail Armstrong, a family friend of Dean's, is on the stand.
Jason Allen gives mid-day update
1:04 p.m. — Mayor Mattie Parker was called in this afternoon to see Judge Gallagher. He ordered her, along with Chris Nettles, to appear at a show cause hearing Jan. 4. This is due to a statement released by Mayor Parker and the City of Fort Worth last night about the verdict.
"Today's verdict provides a measure of justice, though it does not change the fact that a tragedy occurred that should have never happened. This tragedy for me has always been about Atatiana Jefferson – about her life as a daughter, sister, and aunt, and her lasting legacy. (1/2) https://t.co/6W0igyZfPW
— Mayor Mattie Parker (@MayorMattie) December 15, 2022
The judge asked her if she was aware of being under the gag order issued by Judge Hagerman. She said she was. He also asked if she's an attorney, and she responded yes.
Judge Gallagher said there will be no further comments until the case is finished, meaning the defendant is sentenced and the jury is discharged.
Parker appeared with her security detail and quickly came in and out of the courtroom, saying nothing else.
Courtroom breaks for lunch
12:37 p.m. — The courtroom has been dismissed for lunch until 1:45 p.m.
Senior court officer called to the stand
12:08 p.m. — Defense calls Christina Livingston, a senior court officer in the 369th district court, to the stand.
Foster dismissed from stand
12:03 p.m. — Foster spoke in favor of Dean's character and the state did not cross examine. He is now dismissed from the stand.
Character witness Tim Foster takes the stand
11:59 a.m. — Tim Foster, a character witness for Dean, is on the stand for the defense. He says he knows Dean from church.
Court back in session
11:55 a.m. — Court is back in session.
Carr excused, state rests
11:40 a.m. — Carr has been excused and the state has rested. Judge Gallagher has allowed a 10 minute recess inside the courtroom.
#AaronDean sits at defense table waiting to hear what his punishment will be for manslaughter for killing Atatiana Jefferson. Manslaughter carries 2-20 years in state of Texas. @CBSDFW pic.twitter.com/SrNaTJmiAw
— Ken Molestina (@cbs11ken) December 16, 2022
Attorney asks Carr how he found out Jefferson had been shot
11:35 a.m. — State attorney Dale Smith asks Carr how he found out Jefferson had been shot.
"The next morning, I remember being in the kitchen cooking breakfast for my pregnant fiancee at the time. I got a call from my big sister Ashley...I knew mom was in the hospital, I knew Amber was in the hospital, so I kind of figured it was a call about one of them. She [Ashley] answered the phone and she just told me up front, 'I don't know how to tell you this, but Tay [Atatiana] is gone.'"
Jefferson's brother, Adarius Carr, takes the stand
11:30 a.m. — Jefferson's brother, Adarius Carr, has now taken the stand. He shares that school always came easy to his younger sister and echoed that she wanted to become a doctor and cure diabetes.
Turner back on stand, shares personal experience with Dean
11:10 a.m. — Turner is back on the stand where she shared that on Nov. 18, 2004, Dean came up behind her inside a UTA library, wrapped his arms around her torso and skirted his left around the cup of her bra. She said he then leaned into her ear and said, "Has anyone ever told you how great you are?"
She says the two were never romantically involved and that Dean knew she had a boyfriend.
Turner filed a five-page report of the incident of which she said she told Dean she was "flattered" but that he made her uncomfortable. She admitted that Dean did apologize to her afterward.
Courtroom now in recess
10:55 a.m. — Judge Gallagher has asked for additional information from lawyers in between character witnesses and granted a recess until the information is provided.
Court back in session, Elizabeth Turner takes the stand
10:32 a.m. — Court is now back in session and character witness Elizabeth Turner, who met Dean at UTA, is on the stand.
Turner met Dean through Home School Graduates, a student organization of which she founded.
#AaronDean trial punishment phase. Character witness Elizabeth Turner on the stand now. @CBSDFW pic.twitter.com/T1pBGGzTrp
— Ken Molestina (@cbs11ken) December 16, 2022
Dr. Clayton excused, courtroom takes break
10:09 a.m. — Dr. Clayton has been excused and the courtroom is taking a 15 minute break.
Psychologist who did Dean's pre-employment evaluation on the stand
9:30 a.m. — Psychologist Kyle Clayton is currently on the stand. He did Dean's pre-employment evaluation and says the former Fort Worth police officer was narcissistic.
Judge Gallagher calls on Chris Nettles
Before the jury was in this morning, Judge Gallagher called Fort Worth City Councilman Chris Nettles.
Judge Gallagher laid out three potential instances of contempt of court due to his presence at the courthouse Thursday, his interviews, and his own statement on the verdict.
Nettles is a sworn witness and not supposed to be talking to anyone. The judge ordered him to appear at a show cause hearing on Jan. 4.