Aaron Dean's defense team asks for another delay in murder trial
FORT WORTH (CBSDFW.COM) - The defense team for Aaron Dean is asking for a new judge to step in and help decide if the former police officer's murder trial should happen later this month or be rescheduled again.
In a motion filed by Dean's attorneys, they argue two other cases they are working on currently have trial dates that could conflict with the Dean case. Because the defendants in those cases are still in jail, and the victim in one is a child, they argue local and state rules give those cases priority to be heard.
Judge David Hagerman has resisted efforts by Dean's team in hearings to reschedule the trial, telling them in a hearing last week he expects them to be in court for jury selection June 21.
Dean is charged with murder for the shooting death of Atatiana Jefferson in October 2019. The trial was delayed in December due to scheduling conflicts with expert witnesses. It was delayed again in May after defense attorney Jim Lane became ill and was unable to prepare. At the time, Hagerman said the trial would being in June "without exception."
Fort Worth defense attorney Benson Varghese said Friday that layers of state, regional and local rules regarding court priorities for scheduling are clear and have to be followed. However, all sides could still agree to sit down and work something out.
"Traditionally in Tarrant county when conflicts have come up, the parties have tried to get together to see if there was a resolution that worked for everyone," he said.
