This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/dec/02/walter-scott-shooting-trial-jury-michael-slager
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Walter Scott shooting: jury deadlocked in former officer's murder trial | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The jury in the trial of former police officer Michael Slager, who shot and killed unarmed African American Walter Scott as he ran away, has indicated it cannot reach a unanimous decision, throwing a cloud of uncertainty over the case. | The jury in the trial of former police officer Michael Slager, who shot and killed unarmed African American Walter Scott as he ran away, has indicated it cannot reach a unanimous decision, throwing a cloud of uncertainty over the case. |
| The monthlong trial heard closing arguments on Wednesday, leaving jurors to decide whether to convict Slager, 35, on charges of murder or manslaughter. | |
| On Friday, after over 14 hours of deliberations, the jury’s foreman indicated in a note to South Carolina judge Clifton Newman that they would not be able to reach a unanimous decision. | On Friday, after over 14 hours of deliberations, the jury’s foreman indicated in a note to South Carolina judge Clifton Newman that they would not be able to reach a unanimous decision. |
| “It is clear that jurors will not be able to come to consensus,” the note read. | “It is clear that jurors will not be able to come to consensus,” the note read. |
| In response, Judge Newman called the jury back into the court room and urged them, under a so-called Allen charge, to continue deliberations and push for a decision. | In response, Judge Newman called the jury back into the court room and urged them, under a so-called Allen charge, to continue deliberations and push for a decision. |
| “It isn’t always easy for two people to agree so when 12 people must agree it must be more difficult,” Newman said. | “It isn’t always easy for two people to agree so when 12 people must agree it must be more difficult,” Newman said. |
| “You have a duty to make every reasonable effort to reach a unanimous verdict,” the judge said. “Discuss your differences with an open mind.” | “You have a duty to make every reasonable effort to reach a unanimous verdict,” the judge said. “Discuss your differences with an open mind.” |
| Newman warned that a split decision would result in a mistrial meaning that “at some other time I will try this case with some other jury where you now sit … we will go through this whole process again”. | Newman warned that a split decision would result in a mistrial meaning that “at some other time I will try this case with some other jury where you now sit … we will go through this whole process again”. |
| On Thursday the jury requested clarification on the legal distinction between “fear” and “passion”, the potential difference between a claim of justifiable self-defense, which Slager’s legal team have argued throughout, and a manslaughter conviction, which would find that Slager unlawfully killed Scott in the heat of passion. | On Thursday the jury requested clarification on the legal distinction between “fear” and “passion”, the potential difference between a claim of justifiable self-defense, which Slager’s legal team have argued throughout, and a manslaughter conviction, which would find that Slager unlawfully killed Scott in the heat of passion. |
| But Newman declined to provide the jury guidance, telling them on Friday morning that it was “solely for you” to decide. | But Newman declined to provide the jury guidance, telling them on Friday morning that it was “solely for you” to decide. |
| On Wednesday, Newman allowed the jury to consider the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter, meaning an unlawful killing that occurred without “malice” but rather in the heat of passion after provocation. Slager had originally been charged with murder. | On Wednesday, Newman allowed the jury to consider the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter, meaning an unlawful killing that occurred without “malice” but rather in the heat of passion after provocation. Slager had originally been charged with murder. |
| The jury’s request has been interpreted by some that they are deciding whether to convict Slager for manslaughter or to acquit him. | The jury’s request has been interpreted by some that they are deciding whether to convict Slager for manslaughter or to acquit him. |
| But it remains unclear precisely how the jury has split numerically and on what grounds. | But it remains unclear precisely how the jury has split numerically and on what grounds. |
| Slager shot Scott, 50, five times from behind after pursuing the father of four when he fled a traffic stop in South Carolina in April 2015. Video filmed by a witness showed Scott was running away with his back turned when Slager, then an officer with the North Charleston police department, opened fire. | Slager shot Scott, 50, five times from behind after pursuing the father of four when he fled a traffic stop in South Carolina in April 2015. Video filmed by a witness showed Scott was running away with his back turned when Slager, then an officer with the North Charleston police department, opened fire. |