Posted on 05/08/2005 9:07:21 PM PDT by Columbus Dawg
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- After weeks of testimony and days of deliberation, the serial shootings trial ended Sunday evening with a hung jury.
The jury returned to the courtroom at about 4:40 p.m. Sunday afternoon without a verdict, NBC 4's Nancy Burton reported.
The jurors sent a letter to Judge Charles Schneider asking for instructions because they could not reach a verdict on the insanity defense.
Schneider asked the jurors to return to the jury room one more time to see if further deliberation would result in a verdict. The jurors took about an hour to return again without a verdict. Several of the jurors could be seen crying, Burton reported.
Schneider thanked the jurors and alternates for their time and sent them home.
The case will be retried, according to Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O'Brien. He said a pretrial hearing was scheduled for Tuesday.
Jurors told the judge that they had been deliberating since Friday morning and that votes were taken on Friday on Sunday. The jurors said there had been no movement toward a unanimous decision and there was no indication that would change.
Jurors had the task of finding Charles McCoy Jr. either guilty of aggravated murder or not guilty by reason of insanity.
Jurors had to reach a unanimous decision.
If the jury found McCoy guilty of murder or aggravated murder, he would have gone to prison and possibly death row. If he was found not guilty by reason of insanity, he would have been placed in a mental hospital.
On Friday, Schneider called the jurors "tense." The jury asked for two breaks in two hours Friday afternoon.
McCoy, 29, could face the death penalty if convicted of the most serious charge of aggravated murder in the death of Gail Knisley, the only person struck during the series of shootings around the city's outerbelt.
Jurors deliberated through the weekend, which could have put a strain on several members, Burton reported.
A child of one of the jurors turned 18 during the weekend. Another had a child going to a high school prom.
The jurors had been away from their families since Wednesday morning.
Cry me a river! One of the primary duties of a citizen is to serve on a jury when called.
Maybe we can get hordes of illegal aliens to do this "job that Americans won't do".
They’re sure to be sated once they get the advance on their book deals.
May I suggest outsourcing the jury??
May I suggest outsourcing the jury??
Sorry for the double post. My mistake
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