AJ Armstrong's 3rd capital murder trial delayed until next week

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Opening statements in A.J. Armstrong's third capital murder trial were supposed to begin Monday morning. However, after prosecutors and defense attorneys met for more than an hour in Judge Kelli Johnson's chambers, it was announced the trial would be delayed one week.

"An issue has developed outside the court's control," Judge Johnson said aloud in court, revealing no other details about the delay.

The trial is now set to begin Monday, June 12.

As prosecutors and Armstrong's attorneys left court, neither side would elaborate on what the "issue" is.

This case has seen two mistrials, in 2019 and 2022, and had countless resets, dragging on for more than seven years.

Armstrong was first charged with the murders of his parents, Dawn and Antonio Sr., in July 2016. The couple was found shot to death inside their southwest Houston home. Armstrong, 16 at the time, was charged with capital murder hours later.

Now at 23, Armstrong, a husband and a father, is set to face a third jury.

The tedious, exhaustive jury selection lasted three weeks, as more than 200 potential jurors were summoned. After more than 150 hours of one-on-one questioning, 12 jurors plus four alternates were chosen.

Of the 10 men and six women, there are two Marines, engineers in the oil and gas industry, a retired teacher, a Space Center Houston worker, and therapists who work or have worked with mental health patients.

The jurors range in age from a 26-year-old man to a 65-year-old grandmother. There are four white women, two white men, four Hispanic men, two Hispanic women, two Black men, and two Asian men.

SEE ALSO: Jury picked for AJ Armstrong's 3rd murder trial set to start Monday

During opening arguments, prosecutors and the defense will each get 45 minutes to set up their cases.

The case is expected to last two to three weeks. If found guilty, Armstrong will automatically be sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 40 years.

For ABC13's full coverage of AJ Armstrong's murder trials over the years, visit this page.

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