Judge files motion to change location of A.J. Armstrong’s third murder trial

In October, a judge declared a mistrial in the second murder case of Antonio “AJ” Armstrong Jr.

HOUSTON. According to court documents, the judge requested a change in the location of the A.J. Armstrong Jr. trial.

Armstrong Jr is accused of killing his parents in their Bellaire home in 2016. Earlier this month, he appeared in court at a pre-trial hearing. It was the first time he has appeared in court since a second mistrial in October.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The video above is taken from a report in early January of the A.J. Armstrong murder pretrial hearing.

Judge Kelly Johnson said in a statement that she does not think a fair and impartial trial can be held in Harris County. A hearing on the change of venue motion is scheduled for January 30, at which lawyers are asked to provide evidence either in support of or against the court’s proposed change of venue.

In an emotional interview after the pre-trial hearing, Armstrong Jr.’s grandparents pleaded with the district attorney’s office not to proceed with a new lawsuit.

“We have supported our grandson every day since 2016,” said Armstrong Jr.’s grandfather, Keith Wylie. “Everyone in the family supports him and believes he is innocent of the charges. Our family is suffering and grieving.”

Armstrong Jr. stood before the judge, waiting for a new trial to take place. He was also seen crying in the hallway along with family members. Wylie said the family can’t move on while the murder case hangs over their heads.

The judge has ordered that jury selection begin on February 24, but evidence will not be heard until March 20. The reason for the adjournment is because prosecutors were worried about spring break and that Rodeo Houston was an inconvenience to jurors.

Lawyers for Armstrong Jr argue that someone else committed the crime and that the third lawsuit is a waste of taxpayer money.

What happened

Armstrong Jr. was 16 when prosecutors said he shot his parents. Antonio Armstrong Sr. and Don Armstrong were killed while sleeping in their home in Bellaire.

Armstrong Jr.’s first trial in 2019 ended in error when the jury failed to agree on a verdict.

During the second trial, defense attorneys said that eight jurors found Armstrong Jr. innocent and four found him guilty. In his first trial, it was the other way around: eight jurors found him guilty.

HOW 11 spoke to the jury at the second trial. They said that the doubts generated by the defense led to the jurors being jurors.

“It got to the point where I couldn’t even talk anymore,” the juror said. “Everyone kind of made up their minds, but it was very frustrating to hear everyone say — I mean, everyone say: We know he’s not innocent, but we still have our doubts.”

Victims

Armstrong Sr. played football for Texas A&M and the Miami Dolphins and coached both of his sons when they were younger.

According to police, he was an assistant pastor. Don Armstrong’s Facebook page says they “serve together in the ministry.”

The couple owned 1st grade teaching at Bellaire and Armstrong Sr. was also a motivational speaker.

Family members continued to support Antonio Armstrong Jr. throughout both trials, and many were present in the courtroom in October when the mistrial was announced.

HOW 11 on social networks: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube

Content Source

Dallas Press News – Latest News:
Dallas Local News || Fort Worth Local News | Texas State News || Crime and Safety News || National news || Business News || Health News

Related Articles

Back to top button