Carr was inside the house on Oct. 12, 2019, when Dean shot and killed his aunt. He was the primary witness to take the stand Monday.
FORT WORTH, Texas — On the primary day of the homicide trial of former Fort Worth officer Aaron Dean, Atatiana Jefferson’s nephew, Zion Carr, took the stand.
Carr was inside the house on Oct. 12, 2019, when Dean shot and killed his aunt. He was the primary witness to take the stand.
More than three years have handed since that day and the trial started on Monday.
The jury heard opening statements from each the prosecution and the protection earlier than Carr took the stand.
“This is not a case about a drug deal gone bad, or a robbery. This is a case about a Fort Worth police officer — a stranger to Atatiana — who shot through the back of her bedroom window in the middle of the night when she was in her home and should’ve been safe. You are going to hear that this was an absolutely intentional act, an unjustifiable act that never should’ve happened,” mentioned Tarrant County prosecutor Ashlea Deener.
The protection had initially waived its possibility for a gap assertion however later spoke to the jury.
“This case is about facts, and not emotions,” mentioned protection legal professional Miles Brissette. “That gun was relevant. Everyone in Texas, everyone in the United States has the right to defend themselves in their home. This is a tragic accident. Tragically, Ms. Jefferson lost her life.”
Carr was enjoying video video games together with his aunt, Jefferson, on that evening in 2019. A neighbor had known as police to conduct a welfare verify on Jefferson’s residence after seeing a door open. Dean responded to the scene on an “open structure” name, arriving on the residence at 2:29 a.m.
About one minute after first attending to the house, Dean will get to the again, by no means saying his presence or that he was a police officer. Court paperwork mentioned Atatiana heard somebody creeping in her yard, grabbed her gun and opened the blinds.
“Put your hands up! Show me your hands!” Dean shouted shortly.
Less than one second after he advised Jefferson to indicate her fingers, Dean fired. The single shot killed Atatiana Jefferson.
Carr was 8 years outdated on the time. On Monday, the now-11-year-old recounted the night Jefferson was killed, stating that he was “thinking it was a dream” when she was shot.
Carr advised the prosecution Monday {that a} door was open on the residence that evening as a result of the hamburgers they had been cooking had burned, inflicting smoke.
On the stand, Carr mentioned he did not hear or see anybody outdoors proper earlier than the taking pictures.
When requested by the prosecution if he knew his aunt had been damage after being shot by Dean, Carr mentioned Jefferson was “crying and shaking.” He advised the jury he was scared as a result of he had seen Jefferson crying and thought it will need to have been critical.
The prosecution completed questioning Carr shortly earlier than 10:30 a.m. Monday.
After a quick recess, Carr returned to the stand to be cross-examined by the protection.
Judge George Gallagher stopped the protection’s cross-examination and a girl was accused of allegedly hand-signaling Carr whereas he was on the stand. Gallagher warned the lady that she was not allowed handy sign any witnesses on the stand and requested her to go away the courtroom.
During his testimony Monday, Carr was very calm, however struggled to recollect particulars in regards to the incident years in the past. He mentioned he would not keep in mind the sound of the gunshot that killed Jefferson however does keep in mind her falling.
Carr additionally mentioned he would not like to speak about what occurred with anybody.
Court was in session for less than half a day Monday, on account of a funeral for considered one of Dean’s former attorneys, Jim Lane. Lane died final Sunday.
A full day of testimony is predicted when courtroom resumes on Tuesday.
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