Overview
- A jury was seated Monday with eight women, four men and two male alternates as the trial got underway.
- The district attorney waived an opening statement and began with witnesses, including the victim’s wife and a Forney investigator who played McEuen’s interview in which he admitted to shooting Aaron Martinez and taking his phone.
- McEuen faces capital murder along with additional counts that include five aggravated assault charges, arson, felony bail jumping and failure to appear.
- Authorities say he cut off his ankle monitor on May 5, was placed on Texas’ 10 Most Wanted list with a $30,000 reward, and was arrested about a month later hiding under his grandmother’s house after surveillance-led tracking.
- The defense argues the shooting was self-defense and is weighing a change of venue, while the Martinez family cites prior threats, calls the killing a hate crime and urges that he not receive bond.