National
The Latest: Family Wants New Trial After Officer’s Mistrial
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The latest on the trial of a white North Carolina police officer charged with voluntary manslaughter in the shooting death of an unarmed black man seeking help after a September 2013 car crash (all times local):
10:10 p.m.
Police officers, some seen on video carrying shields and wearing helmets, formed a line on a Charlotte block Friday evening after dozens of demonstrators gathered in protest over the mistrial declared in the case of a white officer in the shooting death of an unarmed black man.
The protesters had gathered near the city’s minor league baseball stadium as a game was in progress. Video showed the officers formed a line across a street adjacent to the stadium. Some of the protesters wore masks and shouted at officers, but there were no confrontations at the time.
The protesters continued walking through the city. They carried signs and weaved through traffic as some shouted “Hands up, don’t shoot!” At the urging of protesters, some motorists honked car horns in support.
One protester was shown on video getting into a shouting match with a law enforcement officer later at another location near the city’s transit center. There, police officers were seen on video grasping batons and stopping protesters from entering the covered center.
Relatives of Jonathan Ferrell, the man shot in 2013 by white Charlotte-Meckleburg police officer Randall Kerrick, is calling for another trial after Kerrick’s voluntary manslaughter trial ended Friday with a deadlocked jury.
6:15 p.m.
The family of a black man who was shot and killed by a white Charlotte police officer is calling for a new trial and a peaceful response after the officer’s manslaughter trial ended with a deadlocked jury.
Relatives of Jonathan Ferrell held a news conference Friday afternoon outside the Mecklenburg County courthouse. The called for “Justice for Jonathan.”
Judge Robert C. Ervin declared a mistrial after four days of deliberations.
The mistrial sparked a small demonstration outside the courthouse.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police officer Randall Kerrick had faced up to 11 years in prison.
Prosecutors said the 29-year-old Kerrick used deadly force when he shot and killed Ferrell in September 2013. They say nonlethal force should have been used to subdue the former Florida A&M football player.
But Kerrick’s attorneys said the officer feared for his life when he shot and killed Ferrell while responding to a breaking-and-entering call.
5:30 p.m.
A handful of protesters has been in the street, blocking traffic outside the Mecklenburg courthouse after a mistrial was declared in the case of a white police officer charged with voluntary manslaughter in the death of an unarmed black man.
Eight protesters were sprawled in the middle of the street Friday afternoon. They held signs with the hash tag of Justice for Jonathan and shouted “No justice no peace.”
One protester identified as Pastor Raymond Johnson said they want a new trial with a new jury that “will do the right thing and send this man to jail.”
Prosecutors said the 29-year-old Kerrick used deadly force when he shot and killed Jonathan Ferrell in September 2013. They say nonlethal force should have been used to subdue the former Florida A&M football player. Two officers with Kerrick didn’t fire their guns.
Jurors told Judge Robert C. Ervin they were deadlocked 8-4, with no hope of reaching a unanimous verdict.
___
4:10 p.m.
A North Carolina jury has deadlocked, resulting in a mistrial in the case of a white police officer charged with voluntary manslaughter in the death of an unarmed black man.
Judge Robert C. Ervin declared a mistrial Friday afternoon after four days of deliberations.
Ervin brought the racially diverse jury back into the Mecklenburg County courtroom around 4:10 p.m. and the foreman said he saw no possibility of reaching a verdict.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police officer Randall Kerrick had faced up to 11 years in prison.
The jury had deliberated for several days.
Prosecutors said the 29-year-old Kerrick used deadly force when he shot and killed Jonathan Ferrell in September 2013. They say nonlethal force should have been used to subdue the former Florida A&M football player. Two officers with Kerrick didn’t fire their guns.
But Kerrick’s attorneys said the officer feared for his life when he shot and killed Ferrell while responding to a breaking-and-entering call.
.
___
3 p.m.
Jurors in the trial of a white police officer accused in the shooting death of an unarmed black man say they are making progress, and the judge has told them to continue deliberating
Judge Robert C. Ervin brought the jury back into the Mecklenburg County courtroom around 3 p.m. Friday and asked the jury foreman where the votes stood.
The foreman said the jury’s discussions have been “productive.”
Earlier, he said they were deadlocked, with an initial 7-5 vote and later 8-4.
___
12 p.m.
Jurors in the trial of a white police officer accused in the shooting death of an unarmed black man say they’re deadlocked after three votes, but the judge sent them back to continue deliberating
Judge Robert C. Ervin brought the jury back into the Mecklenburg County courtroom around noon Friday and asked the jury foreman where the votes stood.
The foreman said an initial vote taken was 7-5. The second vote, taken Thursday, was 8-4, and that was the same outcome when the jury voted again prior to entering the courtroom.
Defense attorney George Laughrun moved for a mistrial, but Ervin denied the request. Instead, Ervin ordered the jury to go back and do what it could to reach a unanimous verdict.
___
9:30 a.m.
The jury has resumed its deliberations in the trial of a white police officer accused in the fatal shooting of an unarmed black man two years ago.
Friday is the fourth day that the jury has gone over the evidence in the trial of Officer Randall Kerrick, who is charged with voluntary manslaughter in the September 2013 shooting death of Jonathan Ferrell. Kerrick is suspended without pay from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg police force.
If convicted, Kerrick faces up to 11 years in prison.
Jurors have spent the previous two days asking Judge Robert C. Ervin for material and testimony from the trial, which is wrapping up its third week.
___
Corrects to say judge’s first name is Robert, not Richard.
Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
###
