TULSA – The jury has been selected and the trial of former Tulsa County reserve deputy Robert Bates who is accused of shooting an unarmed suspect last year will begin at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Twelve jurors and two alternates were chosen. None of the jurors is African American.
The jury heard from Undercover Deputy Lance Ramsey. He was the investigator seen in the beginning of the Eric Harris sting video.
He spoke about Robert Bates' role in the operation, saying the reserve deputy wasn't originally in the plan to help out. Ramsey says Bates called him the night before the April 2nd sting, volunteering to show up.
He also talked about Bates' position in the operation saying he was only supposed to be back up.
2 Works For You spoke with both sides about the first day of the trial.
"I actually believe he shot him because he was 73 years old and untrained period…and it has nothing to do with anything else. He shouldn’t have been there," said Andre Harris, Eric's brother.
"We are confident, as we have been all along, that justice will occur and we are looking forward to that day," said Bates' attorney, Clark Brewster.
Both the defense and prosecution presented their opening statements. More witnesses will take the stand Thursday morning.
RELATED: Day 1: Trial for ex-reserve deputy who fatally shot unarmed man, Robert Bates, begins | MORE on TCSO investigation | Bates Trial: Day 2, jury selection continues
Bates reportedly told authorities that he believed he was grabbing for his Taser when he shot Eric Harris who was said to be a suspect in an undercover operation.
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