Thursday, March 28, 2024

Jury in the Michael Slager trial deadlocked; mistrial declared

CHARLESTON, S.C. — Jurors in the trial of former South Carolina patrolman Michael Slager informed the judge just after 3:30 p.m. Monday that they were deadlocked and the judge declared a mistrial.

Slager is charged in the shooting death of 50-year-old Walter Scott, who was shot five times in the back last year while running from Slager during a traffic stop in North Charleston.

Gov. Nikki Haley released a statement late Monday afternoon saying: “It is my understanding that there will be, as quickly as possible, a new trial where the Scott family and all of South Carolina will hopefully receive the closure that a verdict brings. Justice is not always immediate, but we must all have faith that it will be served – I certainly do.

“I urge South Carolinians, in Charleston and across our state, to continue along the path we have walked these last two years: a path of grace, faith, love and understanding. That is who we are, and who I know we will continue to be.”

“I urge South Carolinians, in Charleston and across our state, to continue along the path we have walked these last two years: a path of grace, faith, love and understanding. That is who we are, and who I know we will continue to be.”

The jury had resumed deliberations Monday morning as the defense continued to request a mistrial.

The judge gave jurors additional instructions, including reminding them that a guilty verdict must be beyond a reasonable doubt.

Before they reached a deadlock, jurors asked Circuit Judge Clifton Newman for clarity on the meanings and definitions of several phrases, including imminent danger, malice aforethought, provocation and self-defense.

The judge merged concerns from the defense and prosecution about the jury’s request into a single written response that he prepared for the jury.

The judge returned with the response at about 12:30 p.m. Monday,and shared it with attorneys before calling the jury back to the courtroom.

The prosecution and defense reviewed the judge’s response. The defense asked the judge to add that there is no malice if one has a just cause to act.

The judge reminded the jury to accept the law as defined by him. The written response explained that manslaughter was included as an option because it is a lesser but included crime in a murder case. The judge defined manslaughter as an unlawful killing without the malice of murder.

The judge’s response to jurors included telling them that they could not convict Slager of murder or manslaughter unless the charge had been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

Click here to read more about the mistrial declared for Michael Slager in Walter Scott shooting case.

 

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

online wholesale business for goods from
China