Ypsilanti Township resident Bruce Lee's attempted murder trial delayed

Posted: Feb 8, 2010 at 10:20 AM [Feb 8, 2010]

An Ypsilanti Township man who received a $1.375 million settlement from Washtenaw County after a confrontation with sheriff’s deputies in 2006 will go on trial for attempted murder in an unrelated case in May.

Bruce Lee, 35, was scheduled to go on trial last week, but his attorneys requested it be delayed while they continue to research the prosecutor’s evidence, court records show.

A new trial date was set for May 17. He is charged with six felony counts stemming from the May 24 shooting outside his family’s former home in the West Willow neighborhood.

Authorities allege he fired into a van occupied by Corey Brown, an acquaintance. The bullet struck the headrest of Brown’s seat, but he was not injured. Testimony at Lee’s preliminary hearing in July indicated the dispute involved a woman. Lee’s attorneys argued Brown was also armed, and Lee acted in self-defense.

In September, Lee received a $1.375 million settlement from the county in a federal civil lawsuit stemming from a 2006 confrontation with two sheriff’s deputies. One was acquitted of federal civil rights violations, and the other pleaded guilty.

Lee’s older brother, Clifton, died in a separate but related confrontation with deputies that night.

Lee was arrested shortly after the shooting and was in custody until October, when he posted a $200,000 bond, court records show. He also surrendered the handgun allegedly used in the incident prior to his release, per court order.

Lee is confined on house arrest at his mother’s new residence in Romulus. He is allowed to leave only to meet with his attorneys or for three-hour periods, three days a week, to look for a job.

Court records show prosecutors intend to call between five and 10 witnesses at trial, including several sheriff’s deputies and detectives.

Art Aisner is a freelance writer for AnnArbor.com. Reach the news desk at news@annarbor.com or 734-623-2530.