Manslaughter Trial Opens for Detroit SWAT Officer

Joseph Weekley has been accused of fatally shooting 7-year-old Aiyana Stanley-Jones during a dynamic entry while a reality TV crew from A&E's "48 Hours" gathered footage on May 16, 2010.

The trial of a Detroit Police SWAT operator accused of involuntary manslaughter began today with jury selection.

Joseph Weekley has been accused of fatally shooting 7-year-old Aiyana Stanley-Jones during a dynamic entry while a reality TV crew from A&E's "48 Hours" gathered footage on May 16, 2010.

During the night of Stanley-Jones' death, police were searching for a murder suspect. Police threw a flash-bang device into the home in Lillibridge at 12:40 a.m. Weekley is accused of firing a shot that struck and killed Stanley-Jones as she slept on a couch in the front room.

The Detroit Free Press has objected to the judge's order barring media from the jury selection phase of the trial.

Allison Howard, an employee of the show, has been charged with perjury and withholding evidence important to the investigation. A trial is scheduled to begin June 24.

Related:

Detroit Cop Charged In Death of Girl In Raid

Detroit Officer Who Shot 7-Year-Old Girl May Have Scuffled With Grandmother


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