Following a mistrial in the case of a former Central Texas sheriff's deputy charged in the fatal shooting of a woman on her porch, his attorney is asking for a change of venue for the second trial.
The Austin American-Statesman reports attorney Kristen Jernigan filed the motion Friday, saying great prejudice exists in Bastrop County against her client, Daniel Willis.
A mistrial was declared Sept. 25 after jurors were unable to reach a unanimous verdict. Eight jurors were in favor of a guilty verdict, four were against it.
Last year, the then-Bastrop County sheriff's deputy was responding to a domestic disturbance call when he shot 47-year-old Yvette Smith.
The defense argued Willis believed she was holding an object. According to testimony, she had no object in her hands.
