Judge Declares Mistrial For Police Officer Who Killed Jonathan Ferrell

[herding cats]

Source: NBC

A judge in North Carolina on Friday declared a mistrial in a police officer's 2013 killing of an unarmed former college football player.

That means that the voluntary manslaughter charge against Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer Randall "Wes" Kerrick remains open, leaving it to prosecutors to decide whether to seek another trial.

And it leaves the family of Jonathan Ferrell, who was shot death by Kerrick following a Sept. 14, 2013 traffic accident, without any sense of closure.

The shooting unfolded after Ferrell crawled from his wrecked car and staggered to a nearby house for help. A woman inside called 911 to report a possible break-in. Kerrick and two other officers with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department responded to the scene.

Police dashcam footage showed officers pointing Tasers at him, at which point Ferrell ran. Kerrick, who'd been an officer for three years, stood in his path. He shouted for Ferrell to get on the ground, then shot Ferrell 10 times. Kerrick said he feared Ferrell was going to hurt him when he opened fire.

Read more: http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/judge-declares-mistrial-police-killing-jonathan-ferrell-n414001

[Rose Siding]

1. I hope they retry it again quickly

An earlier report said the deadlock was 8-4 but didn't indicate which way it went.

[randys1]

2. Stunning. Surely the victim isnt Black? wait, i dont even have to check, do i

[Shrike47]

3. I did check. No surprises.

[Lurks Often]

4. The jury was deadlocked 8-4, judge had no choice

The jurors were apparently in agreement that there was no possibility of reaching an unanimous verdict.

[daybranch]

5. Just the system

with poor whites above poor blacks, middle class whites above middle class blacks, and police over everyone except the very rich. Systemic racism implemented by the political minions of the billionaires who control our government and thus your own economic condition. Stand with Bernie and us as we work to eliminate the power of the billionaires and end their racist system of injustice.
As a white man, I know black people suffer most and I want to end this systemic racism by helping remove the group of billionaires that depends on it remaining. Right now black lives matter less and I want to help make them matter more.