Jury selection begins Tuesday in the trial of a man accused of shooting another man following a fight over a bull and leaving him paralyzed, District Attorney Kristi Valls said.
Jerry Odum Pope, 58, of 19848 East Limestone Road in Toney, was charged March 29 with first-degree assault, after a witness told authorities he shot his neighbor, Arthur “James” Gardner, once in the chest at Gardner’s home at 19908 East Limestone Road.
The two men were apparently arguing that Sunday afternoon about Gardner’s bull getting out and mixing with Pope’s cattle, Limestone County Sheriff Mike Blakely said at the time.
“This led to Gardner hitting Pope with a stick,” Blakely said. “Pope then produced a handgun and shot Gardner once in the chest.
When deputies arrived, they found Gardner lying in the pasture with a gunshot wound to his chest, Blakely said.
Surgeons at Huntsville Hospital were unable to remove the bullet lodged near the top of Gardner’s spine, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down. His lung was nicked by the bullet.
He has since moved elsewhere.
Pope has remained free following the incident after posting a $10,000 bail bond.
Jury selection will begin at 9 a.m. Tuesday and take about an hour, and then testimony will follow, Valls said.
Assistant District Attorney Becky Grimes will be the prosecutor.
This will be the last trial of the year for the Limestone County District Attorney’s Office.
Valls and her assistant district attorneys will bring 195 cases before the court Monday, not including drug cases, only assaults, property crimes, robberies and homicides. The District Attorney’s Office will be taking pleas before Limestone Circuit Judge Bob Baker on Monday.
Local News
Trial to get under way for suspect in shooting over a bull
Jury selection begins Tuesday
- Local News
-
-
BREAKING: State offers $1.75 million in incentives for steel plant
On Monday, the Limestone County Commission and Athens City Council held a joint meeting to approve local incentives for the company, including a sales and property tax abatement worth $22 million.
-
Quick-acting deputies nab burglary suspects
-
ALDOT to begin slide repair on I-65
Motorists are requested to consider using alternate routes, adjust arrival/departure times, observe work zone speed limits and other work zone and detour signs and use extreme caution between exits 328 and 334.
-
Ala. House starts session with job creation bills
The House also approved bills offering tax incentives to coal mining businesses and to data processing companies.
-
Judge: Bishop inquest transcript to be made public
Bishop is in prison awaiting trial, charged with opening fire on her co-workers at the University of Alabama in Huntsville in February 2010, killing three and wounding three.
-
Gas prices up; could hit $4 by spring
Gas prices have risen steadily over the past several days to above the $3.30 mark in most locations across the state.
-
MORE STORIES: Click LOCAL NEWS bar at top left
Click "Local News" bar at top left for more stories
-
Williams reflects on 1st week of session
With the first week of the 2012 Alabama Legislative session in the books, Rep. Dan Williams, R-Athens, is enjoying a victory after the House passed a jobs bill that includes an amendment he sponsored.
-
Cook, eat or bid on goods at upcoming Chili Challenge
The 24th annual Hospice of Limestone County Chili Challenge and Silent Auction will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, at Athens High School. - AMVETS offer free membership
- More Local News Headlines
-
BREAKING: State offers $1.75 million in incentives for steel plant
Obama Scraps Birth Control Mandate
US Airmen's Killer Sentenced to Life in Germany
Navy Names Ship for Gabrielle Giffords
Raw Video: Deadly Blasts in Syria
Romney Slams President Obama at CPAC
Gingrich: Pres. Obama 'waging War on Religion'
5 Killed in Wrong-way Crash on I-10 in La.
Uzbek Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Kill Obama
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal
$25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
