BRUNSWICK, Ga. – A jury imported from west Georgia was told Monday that a Camden County deputy was shot one with the defendant's gun, then twice more -- execution style -- with the deputy's weapon as he lay dying along Interstate 95 three years ago.
Jason O'Neal Bryant (pictured, right), 36, is accused of shooting Sgt. Dan Jenkins on August 28, 2000.
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A jury was chosen in Harris County, Ga., -- a rural area north of Columbus -- last week due to pretrial publicity. They were bused to Brunswick to hear the trial at the Glynn County Courthouse, arriving at 3 a.m. Monday morning.
Bryant is accused of murder, armed robbery, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. District Attorney Stephen Kelly has stated the state intends to seek the death penalty against Bryant.
In his opening statement, Kelly said the jury will see and hear the murder recorded by a camcorder mounted in Jenkin's patrol car. He said they will see Bryant get out his car with hands up, then retrieve a gun off the seat and shoot Jenkins in the neck. They will then hear two more shots fired at Jenkins -- one in the back of his head -- as the officer lay dying on the road.
Kelly also said he will present DNA evidence that Jenkins' blood was found inside Bryant's car.
Bryant's defense team deferred their opening statement until the end of the trial.
Prosecutors say Jenkins stopped a car headed north on I-95 that matched the description of one used in a series of armed robberies in Nassau County, Fla. The first two witnesses Monday were clerks that were held up that night.
A truck driver who saw the gunman leave the scene and stopped to use the patrol car's radio to call for help is also expected to testify.
Bryant was arrested by the Richmond Hill Police Department in Bryan County -- just west of Savannah, where he lived -- about four hours after the shooting.
Defense lawyers asked the Georgia Supreme Court to overturn Judge Amanda Williams' ruling to allow the video from Jenkins' patrol to be used as evidence, but lost the appeal.
Jenkins was in law enforcement for 11 years at the Kingsland Police Department. He joined the Camden County Sheriff's Office in 1993 and later was promoted to sergeant.
In a memorial tribute, the Camden County Sheriff's Department retired Jenkins' badge number, 1111, and the football team at Camden County High School wore a badge emblem with the number on their helmets that fall.
Jenkins was 36 years old when he died. He is survived by his wife -- also an employee of the Camden Sheriff's Office -- and three children.
Previous Stories:
- August 13, 2003: Jury Selection Begins For Deputy Murder Trail
- August 10, 2001: Jurors To Be Imported For Murder Trial
- May 15, 2001: Georgia Deputy Among Fallen Officers Honored In D.C.
- September 1, 2000: Thousands Gather For Officer's Funeral
- August 31, 2000: Memorial Services Held For Camden County Deputy
- August 29, 2000: Suspect In Deputy's Shooting Charged With Murder