Jury Seated in Trial Over Slain Dallas Officer

A jury has been seated for the trial of a man accused of the 2009 slaying of a Dallas police officer.

Sr. Cpl. Norman Smith was shot when he and other gang-unit officers attempted to serve an aggravated assault warrant.

Testimony was to begin Wednesday in the trial of 29-year-old Charles Patrick Payne.

Payne, who if convicted of capital murder could get the death penalty, has claimed he didn't know that police were the people trying to enter the apartment during an exchange of gunfire.

Payne attorney Ed "Bubba" King has declined comment. Payne also has been charged with two counts of attempted capital murder of a police officer and cocaine possession.

A man sought on the assault warrant, related to a 2007 robbery, was caught at the home.

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