Jury back to work in murder trial of ex-cop

There have been similar debates over race and policing in places from NY to Ferguson, Missouri, and from Tulsa, Oklahoma, to North Carolina.

(Grace Beahm/Post and Courier via AP, Pool).

“We as the jury regret to inform the court that despite the best efforts of all members, we are unable to come to a unanimous decision”, according to a note read aloud by Judge Clifton Newman who declared a mistrial. Dec, 5, 2016. Slager was charged with mur.

Gov. Nikki Haley says she’s urging South Carolinians to walk the path they have walked the past two years – one of faith, love and understanding – in the wake of the mistrial in the Michael Slager case. “The rule of law has to be preserved in this country”, he said.

“While I can not overstate our disappointment that this case was not resolved, I commend those who sacrificed so much time, energy and effort to serve on this jury”, said lead prosecutor Scarlett Wilson.

Chris Stewart, a Scott family attorney, said the family is hopeful because the solicitor has told them she will seek a retrial, and Slager faces federal civil-rights charges as well. Last year, the city of North Charleston reached a $6.5 million (6 million euro) civil settlement with Scott’s family. In the meantime, he expected to remain free on bail. Scott was hit three times in the back, once in the buttocks and once on the ear. A barber on his way to work recorded the slaying on his cellphone.

A lone juror, a white man or woman on a panel made up of 11 white people and one black man, held out for conviction, seemingly convinced by Slager’s testimony that he feared for his life. Jurors, however, sent the judge a note Monday saying most of the jurors were undecided.

The jurors also wanted to know whether the definition of self-defense for a police officer is different for an average person.

Jurors had deliberated more than 22 hours over four days.

The case was one of several fatal shootings of black suspects across the United States that have thrown the spotlight on how police use deadly force – and whether a suspect’s race plays a role in that decision.

Savage had argued the media created a “false narrative” of a white officer in North Charleston who stopped a black motorist for a brake light and just shot him when he ran away. She appeared on the verge of tears as she thanked the family of Walter Scott, who were sitting in the courtroom. Despite the damning evidence, however, the mistrial is the latest in a series of cases where cops have escaped prosecution. About half of those convicted pleaded guilty. It’s an outcome the 54-year-old SC native has come to expect. “Someone is always going to find a way out for a police officer”.

In South Carolina murder is defined as killing someone as an act of malice. “I don’t believe justice was served today”. Let’s wait on the next trial before we decide to do anything stupid. “We have to live with the fact that he was shot in the back”. Slager’s defense claimed that the officer was in danger describing a physical altercation between Slager and Scott.

The foreman said they would continue to discuss the case. “What will really be awful is when something like this happens, and people are not shocked”. Seanna Adcox contributed to this story from Charleston, South Carolina.