JOURDANTON — Defense attorneys in the Atascosa County capital murder trial of Shawn Puente, accused of killing a San Antonio police officer, failed Friday to convince a judge to move the trial based on the district attorney’s asking local officers for help finding potential jurors “who won’t be afraid to kill this guy.”

State District Judge Donna Rayes denied a motion for a change of venue and also rejected a defense motion asking that she throw out a list of potential jurors that District Attorney Audrey Louis admitted sharing with the officers to get their feedback on the names it contained.

Two potential jurors who Rayes deemed “very credible” members of the community gave statements to authorities reporting law enforcement officers in the county had contacted them informally and made them feel, as the defense put it, that they were being “hand-picked” for the jury.

Puente and his girlfriend, who is not yet on trial, both were charged with capital murder in the Dec. 8, 2013 shooting of San Antonio Police Officer Robert Deckard during a highway chase on Interstate 37 that ended in Atascosa County, population 49,000.

Deckard, 31 and a father of two, died Dec. 20 at Brooke Army Medical Center. Coincidentally, one of the physicians in the hospital’s emergency room was Louis’ husband.

Louis sent an email Jan 12 to five officers, including Atascosa County Sheriff David Soward.

“Here is our list of jurors in order with addresses. Will y’all please, please go through it and let me know the yes’s, no’s and maybes. Or on a scale of one to 10, whatever you think works best. … I’ll owe you all a dinner or beverage of your choice! … Can’t thank you enough! This guy deserves to die, and y’all will play a big part in helping by your input.”

Louis sent a separate note to other officers on Dec. 18, asking them to review the list of names and provide feedback.

“It’s inconceivable what’s going on here,” defense attorney Anna Jimenez told the judge Friday. “The chances are slim and none that the panel of jurors (would be untainted) by these efforts.”

Louis told Rayes she was shocked the defense team would be surprised by her language in communicating with officers with whom she deals on a daily basis.

“Everyone on this side (of the courtroom) knows we want the death penalty,” Louis said. “There’s no evidence that any potential jurors have been influenced. There’s no collusion to deny Mr. Puente a fair trial.”

Louis likely did not cross a “constitutional line,” said St. Mary’s University School of Law professor Gerald Reamey. But, he said, the email “raises the specter that she is saying she wants partisan jurors, people with a predisposition in a (death penalty) case like this.”

Puente sat beside his lawyers Friday, wearing large dark-framed glasses and a suit. He is being held in Atascosa County Jail in Jourdanton.

Several of the officers who testified said they knew they were not supposed to contact prospective jurors, did not do so and did not interpret Louis’ request as anything unethical.

Soward said he knew better than to contact potential jurors and did not define for his officers what might be a “good” juror. “But I would assume (Louis) was seeking someone who favored the death penalty,” he said.

Jury selection continues Monday. Read the full story at ExpressNews.com or in Saturday’s Express-News.

bselcraig@express-news.net