Majority of Jurors Undecided in Ex-Officer Michael Slager Trial

A mistrial has been announced in the murder trial of the former Charleston, S.C., police officer who was recorded on video fatally shooting Walter Scott, a 50-year-old black motorist, after a traffic stop, reports the Washington Post. Today, the jury told the judge that most were undecided.

One female juror wiped away tears with her hands and a tissue as the attorneys addressed them and thanked them for their hours of work.

Jurors deliberated until about 6 p.m. Friday before Newman sent them home.

The briefing comes after Circuit Judge Clifton Newman declared the mistrial in the trial of Michael Slager after a jury said Monday, December 5 that it was unable to unanimously agree on a verdict for the former officer. He was later indicted on separate charges by a federal grand jury for deprivation of rights under the color of the law, use of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime, and obstruction of justice.

“And I want you to know why I’m not sad because Jesus is on the inside”, she said.

ANTHONY SCOTT: I think they had everything they needed.

Scott added that “we have the federal trial and another trail to go – I’m just waiting on the lord, I’m going to rest in the lord”. “I knew I was overpowered”.

The video helped to make Slager a national symbol for a wave of police killings of black men in cities including New York, Baltimore and Ferguson, Missouri.

There were no outbursts in the courtroom, and Scott family attorney Justin Bamberg said no one from the family wanted to speak for now. All community leaders and citizens are asked to attend. The Scotts have been a sterling example of dignity and grace in extraordinary circumstances.

“Will the next administration support the fed’s continuing the case against Slager?” host Mika Brzezinski asked.

Walter Scott’s killing in 2015 sparked protests nationwide. Hours after the mistrial, a tweet from three Black Lives Matter co-founders said, “Some days the hashtag is too painful to participate in”.

“I don’t think questions of fact were the issue for this jury”.

Officer Slager’s father, Thomas, expressed similar sentiments about the future of the case against his son as he exited the courthouse following the announcement. He said he could eventually “find the peace” to forgive the ex-officer but not before justice is served. “I have no doubt that they will continue to show their faith in the criminal justice system”. Ultimately, the jury couldn’t decide.

Santana told the court how he first saw Scott running and Slager running after him.

Slager testified last Tuesday that he feared for his life when he shot and killed Scott, claiming he tried to take his stun gun.

The indictment alleges that Michael Slager, while acting as [a North Charleston Police Department] officer, used excessive force when he shot and killed Walter Scott without legal justification. Scott, at least 17 feet away, is hit five times in the back. The Scott family has been destroyed by this.

Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg and other community leaders urged calm as the trial began six weeks ago. Judges have made it impossible to convict killer cops.