Trial moved to 2022 for only officer charged in Breonna Taylor raid

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The trial date for the only officer charged in connection with the raid resulting in Breonna Taylor’s death has been moved.Former Louisville Metro Det. Brett Hankison was set to go on trial for his wanton endangerment charges on Aug. 31.Now his trial won’t be until next year. Judge Ann Bailey Smith set the new date for Feb. 1, 2022.Smith said a large jury pool will be needed and believes the courtroom could get crowded. She said that could be an issue with COVID-19 restrictions that could still be in place in August.Smith said the trial is expected to take five to seven days, not including jury selection, which she thinks will take “some time.”As of now, the February trial remains in Jefferson County, Kentucky, despite attempts by Hankison’s side to get it moved.Hankison’s attorney Stew Mathews requested a change of venue, claiming the “media circus” around his case would prevent a fair trial in Jefferson County.Last month, Smith denied the motion but said she’d “keep an open mind” about it.The judge is also considering a request from Hankison’s attorney to take the jury to the scene of the shooting — Taylor’s apartment.Hankison is one of three officers who fired their gun during a raid on Taylor’s home over a year ago. He was fired, as well as Det. Myles Cosgrove. Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly is still on the force.No one was charged in Taylor’s death, but Hankison was charged for shots that were fired into a neighboring unit. Hankison’s next pretrial date is July 16 at 11 a.m.