HARRISBURG, Ark. (AP) — Trial for a man accused of killing a Trumann police officer will be moved from Poinsett County to Greene County.
Circuit Judge Brent Davis of Jonesboro on Monday granted a defense request to move Jerry Lard's capital murder trial because of extensive news coverage of the April slaying of Officer Jonathan Schmidt.
The Jonesboro Sun reports trial is scheduled to start July 16 in Paragould. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.
Lard has pleaded not guilty.
On April 12, Schmidt pulled over a vehicle in which Lard was a passenger and learned of a warrant for Lard's arrest. Court documents say that as Schmidt approached the rear passenger door where Lard was sitting, Lard got out of the car and shot Schmidt in the head.
Another officer wounded Lard.
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