If they actually are and do intend on moving during that time, we’re not moving. We’re going to do everything in this courthouse.
The judge presiding over the case against an Edinburg man who is accused of shooting a state trooper in 2019, who later died from his injuries, stated Wednesday morning that they have a jury panel ready for September.
State District Judge Letty Lopez said during 28-year-old Victor Alejandro Godinez’s status hearing that the court has selected two days dedicated to jury selection on Sept. 20 and 21.
Godinez is accused of killing Texas Department of Public Safety trooper Moises Sanchez, 49, four years ago after he shot Sanchez in the head. He is also accused of firing at two Edinburg police officers on April 6, 2019.
Sanchez died on Aug. 23, 2019, months after suffering the gunshot wound following a surgery conducted in Houston.
Godinez is charged with capital murder of a peace officer and two counts of attempted capital murder of a peace officer.
In addition to the announcement of the jury selection dates, Lopez addressed the issue of moving into the new courthouse saying that if by chance they decide to make the move during the trial, they won’t stop.
“If they actually are and do intend on moving during that time, we’re not moving,” Lopez said. “We’re going to do everything in this courthouse.”
Lopez added that the jury selection, which lands on a Wednesday and Thursday, will last all day and suggested the defense block time off during September and October as they’d be in several trials prior to the Godinez trial.
The judge set a final pretrial hearing for early June in order to finalize the questionnaire, according to Lopez.
If convicted, Godinez is facing the death penalty.
