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
-
-
Morning Update for May 30, 2012
VIRAL VIDEO OF THE DAY
What might just be the world’s best marriage proposal. -
Council pledges to help historic projects
The council unanimously decided to give $10,000 toward work being done on the Beaty Mason Home and $10,000 to the Trinity School/Fort Henderson Project.
-
Alabama student kicks off National Spelling Bee
Thirteen-year-old Kevin Lazenby of Opelika, Ala., stepped to the microphone Wednesday morning at a convention center outside Washington and correctly spelled "witticism."
-
Romney clinches nomination, but Trump overshadows
Mitt Romney has won the Republican presidential nomination after years of fighting, though his triumph was partially overshadowed by the celebrity businessman who helped him along the way.
-
Fire destroys unoccupied mobile home
Fire destroyed a mobile home Tuesday morning, which the owner had just moved to a lot in eastern Limestone County.
-
Burial detail seeks new members
The detail, which provides free military honors for families who request it, typically serves at 50 to 60 funerals per year. This year, Keyes said, the group has provided honors at more than 40 funerals already.
-
MORE STORIES: Click LOCAL NEWS bar at top left
Click "Local News" bar at top left for more stories
-
Ardmore Welcome Center turns 35
On Thursday, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m., the Center will celebrate its 35th anniversary and the public is invited.
-
Governor kills bill on tax appeals
Business groups pushing the legislation say they will try again in the next legislative session.
-
17 veterans assistance offices closing in Alabama
The offices are being closed because of severe funding cuts to agencies funded by the state General Fund budget.
- More Local News Headlines
-
90 Guns Seized, Dozens Arrested in Oakland
Raw Video: Hail Storm Batters Oklahoma City
6-Year-Old Going to National Spelling Bee
California's Foie Gras Ban About to Begin
Video Essay: Funky Winkerbean Comic Turns 40
Hurricane Andrew Remembered, 20 Years Later
Judge's Ruling Halts Tenn. Mosque Construction
Romney in Las Vegas on Texas Primary Day
Sister Says She Reported Brother in Patz Killing
Even Fla. Police Shocked by Face-Mauling Attack
Angry Birds Spreading Their Wings
Witness Describes Fla. Face-chewing Attack
