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Mistrial Declared in Murder Trial of White Cop Who Shot Walter Scott in the Back

HeadlineDec 06, 2016

In Charleston, South Carolina, a judge has declared a mistrial in the murder trial of white former police officer Michael Slager, who was caught on video fatally shooting 50-year-old African American Walter Scott in the back as he ran away in April 2015. Officer Slager had stopped Walter Scott for a broken taillight. After Scott fled the car, video filmed by a bystander shows Officer Slager fatally shooting Scott in the back from more than 17 feet away. Despite the distance and the fact that Walter Scott was unarmed, Officer Slager argued during his trial that he was in “total fear” for his life. There were 11 white jurors and one black juror on the panel, which deadlocked after four days of deliberations. This is Judge Clifton Newman.

Judge Clifton Newman: “I have a final note from the jury. It says, 'We, as the jury, regret to inform the court that despite the best efforts on all members, we are unable to come to a unanimous decision in the case of the state versus Michael Slager.' So I am going to bring the jury out and to declare a mistrial.”

Walter Scott’s killing in 2015 sparked protests nationwide. Prosecutors say they will retry the case. This is Walter Scott’s mother, Judy Scott.

Judy Scott: “I believe God. I am encouraged, because I know God is able. He will get his just reward. And we have the federal trial and another trial to go. I’m just waiting on the lord. I’m just going to rest in the lord. I don’t care what man say. I don’t care how it looks. It’s not over. Y’all hear me? It’s not over 'til God say it's over.”

The jury of 11 white people and one black man came from the city of North Charleston, which is nearly half black. The mistrial comes after a jury deadlocked in another high-profile police killing: the fatal shooting of African American Samuel DuBose by white former University of Cincinnati police officer Ray Tensing in Ohio in 2015.

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