Update: Drama In South Carolina Court !!! One Juror Holding Out For 'Not Guilty' On All Charges
JURY SUGGESTS IT IS
DEADLOCKED DUE TO ONE JUROR
HOLDING OUT FOR NOT GUILTY
ON ALL COUNTS
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/jury-weighing-verdict-ex-cop-slager-death-walter-scott-article-1.2896194
Jury says no verdict for ex-cop Slager in death of Walter Scott
A South Carolina jury trying to reach a verdict in the murder trial of ex-cop Michael Slager, accused of gunning down an unarmed black man, said Friday they can't come to a consensus.
The 12-member jury -- 11 whites and one African-American -- handed a note to the judge just after 1 p.m. Friday, the third day of deliberations in Slager's case.
The former North Charleston police officer was charged in the death of Walter Scott, a 50-year-old African-American man.
Michael Slager testified he feared for his life when he shot Walter Scott.
(POOL/REUTERS)
The judge allowed the jury to consider a manslaughter charge against Slager as well as murder.
Jury deliberating Walter Scott trial ask for ex-cop's testimony
The jury on Thursday night had asked the court for an explanation of how fear might differ from heat of passion -- suggesting they were debating the lesser charge of manslaughter.
Protesters decry police shooting of Walter Scott
But the judge told them the court could not answer that question.
It’s for the jurors to decide, he said, urging them to use their common sense.
Slager shot Scott five times in the back and side as he tried to flee from him.
(Scott Family/New York Daily News)
Ex-cop accused of murder emotionally recalls killing Walter Scott
Slager testified he feared for his life when he shot Scott.
Scott family lawyers Chris Stewart (from l.) and Justin T. Bamberg talk with Walter Scott's brother Anthony Scott Thursday while waiting for the verdict.
(RANDALL HILL/REUTERS)
Scott was pulled over by Slager, who is white, on April 4, 2015, when the officer spotted a broken taillight on his vehicle.
During the encounter, Scott tried to run away — prompting Slager to open fire. He hit Scott five times in the back and side, authorities said.
The fatal April 2015 encounter made the front page of the Daily News.
(New York Daily News)
Cell phone video of the fatal encounter — taken by a witness unseen by Slager — sparked national outrage.
Officer's account of shooting contradicted by video: cops
But even after seeing Scott's shooting death with their own eyes, the jury said it could not reach a verdict on any charge.
Slager watches video of the encounter Tuesday in court during his murder trial.
(Pool/Getty Images)
A guilty verdict on the murder charge would require the jury to find that Slager shot Scott with malice in his mind.
A guilty verdict on manslaughter would mean the jury felt Slager fired in the heat of passion.
If convicted of murder, Slager could face 30 years to life. Voluntary manslaughter could be two to 30 years.
Michael Slager indicted by grand jury for Walter Scott shooting
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Let's hope they are just having trouble deciding between murder or manslaughter and innocence is not on the table.
I encountered a black bear just outside of Itasca state park. It ran away when it saw me; so, I shot it in the back five times 'cause I was soooooo full of passion and fright!
"Voluntary manslaughter could be two to 30 years."
But if you sell some weed in SC, you'll get five years in prison ... particularly if you're black.
Any evidence? Because the actual penalty is zero to 5 years.
Shot in the back, unarmed, 20 feet away from the cop , while running away.
And someone wants the cop to walk.
11 whites and one black on the jury.
Do you have any evidence your statement is true? Specifically that someone "wants him to walk"? Also, why the race card? Do you assume the jurors are bigots?
The juror in question sent a note to the judge saying that they could not find the defendant guilty. At this hour they are determining if the rest of the jury still wants to continue to try and change this person's mind.
He sounds like Henry Fonda in twelve angry men.
Could not find him guilty of a specific charge. It's seems likely that the holdout wants manslaughter, not to set him free.
Also, why the race card?
There is video of the cop shooting the man in the back as he runs away, unarmed.
Yes, you could possibly say, the rest of the jury wants to convict. yes that is true. They probably understand the video evidence.
I guess there is a chance the holdout is the one black juror. That would be a whole other can of worms if that turned out to be the case.
He needs to be charged. That was murder.
Saying the cops took it way too far is like saying Moby Dick played with a few too many boats.
It seems that the use of deadly force against someone who is merely running away to escape arrest for something minor has become accepted by many cops . Are the law books with them ?