“Not guilty would have been worse,” stated group member Nysse Nelson.
TARRANT COUNTY, Texas — The hallway main as much as the 396th District courtroom in Fort Worth was full of individuals on Thursday afternoon. It was simply minutes earlier than the verdict could be learn within the Aaron Dean trial.Â
A group member stated a “prayer for justice” simply earlier than household and mates of each Atatiana Jefferson and Dean entered the courtroom.
In a close-by overflow room, a number of folks responded by stomping their ft. Within minutes of the verdict being learn and folks have been allowed to file out of the courtroom, the news had sunk in and the uncooked emotion got here out.
“He shot that girl. Not murder, but manslaughter,” yelled a group member who knew the Jefferson household.
Dean was discovered responsible of manslaughter. But, it was clear that’s not what Jefferson’s household and mates wished to listen to.
“Not guilty would have been worse,” stated one other group member, Nysse Nelson. “The state actually gave me a reassuring feeling.”
Dean’s household rushed out of the courthouse doorways and into automobiles.Â
But not with out listening to the opposite facet’s discontent.
“We won’t rest until we get justice,” stated Leon Scott, a Fort Worth native who was a part of the small group standing exterior the justice heart after the verdict.
Pastor Sharon Ford-Turner wiped tears from her eyes as she tried to elucidate how she felt.
“My feelings are all over the place,” she stated. “I’m sad. Somewhat relieved it’s over. But, how do you get closure with a killing?”
Ford-Turner stated she’d helped lead a prayer circle for Jefferson’s household earlier than the trial started.
“Standup, come downtown, and make your voice heard. We are already failed. This will be another failure on top of it,” stated Fort Worth metropolis councilmember Chris Nettles.
The sentencing section is certain to carry much more emotion. Community members in assist of Jefferson are hoping for the utmost 20-year sentence, whereas Dean’s household and protection legal professional are probably hoping for the minimal.
“We’re keeping her name alive but we just wish we could have got that real full justice she deserves,” stated Nelson.
“This has been a tough three years and an even tougher two weeks,” stated Nettles.
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