Justin Haffa
MAYVILLE – The jury has been selected in the retrial of the Cheektowaga man accused of attempted murder against a Chautauqua County sheriff’s deputy.
According to the Post-Journal, the final four jurors of were selected from the jury pool on Wednesday, with the retrial of Justin Haffa now ready to begin next week.
Haffa faces a charge of first-degree attempted murder, first-degree robbery, and aggravated assault on a police officer following an incident that reportedly took place during the early morning of Sept. 11, 2016 when he was pulled over on Route 60 in the town of Pomfret.
Authorities say Haffa allegedly attacked a female sheriff deputy during a field sobriety test and wrestled her to the ground, eventually taking her service weapon before fleeing on foot from the scene. He was captured by police a short time later.
Haffa’s initial trial took place in 2017, but a mistrial was declared after it was learned the defense did not receive a DNA report entered as evidence by the prosecution.
According to the Post-Journal, about 80 potential jurors were brought in for the retrial.
Haffa is being defended by public defender Ned Barone. If convicted he faces a sentence of 25 years to life in prison.
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