Kerrick had faced up to 11 years in prison. He stared straight on the decide and exclusively appeared to provide a smile of aid moments afterward.
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At issue in the case was whether Kerrick was justified when he fired 12 rounds at Ferrell, 10 of which hit him.
Defense witness Dave Cloutier, a former police officer and retired instructor for the North Carolina Justice Academy, testified that according to CMPD policy, Kerrick was justified in deploying his firearm. Hours earlier, the foreman had said the jury was making progress in resolving the 8-4 deadlock. It is unknown which approach the bulk was leaning, whether or not it was not responsible or responsible. He needed to know if seeing any proof once more would break the impasse.
Protesters have once again filled the streets of uptown Charlotte in the wake of the Randall Kerrick trial. According to the foreman, the jury voted four times over the course of four days. Prosecutor Adren Harris said officials will review the case and consider whether to retry it.
“We’ll evaluation the trial transcript, some other proof within the case and absolutely think about our choices on this case”, he stated.
In a news conference, Charlotte Mayor Dan Clodfelter urged the community to seek to lessen fear and misunderstanding. All told, it took four votes on the charge of voluntary manslaughter against Kerrick in the death of Jonathan Ferrell, a former Florida A&M football player. He missed. When Ferrell began to run toward Kerrick, the officer thought his life was in danger, he stated later.
Kerrick opened fire at position “D” and fires his final shots with Ferrell on top of him at position “E”.
Laughrun had no comment after the mistrial was declared and jurors walked past reporters without taking questions.
Prosecutors argued that Ferrell made no overt threat to police, and noted that Kerrick fired a second round of shots after Ferrell had fallen at his feet, and then two more after Ferrell’s body moved for a final time.
Kerrick’s case is one of several in the United States in which a white police officer has been accused of using unjustified force against an unarmed black man. The killings have touched off a nationwide debate on race and policing.
Outside court, a handful of protesters lay in the middle of the street to protest soon after the mistrial was declared. “We encourage people to get their message out, as long as they’re within the laws”, Putney said. “Jonathan Ferrell“, “justice for Jonathan”.
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Anticipating the possibility of violence, the department had put in place a plan that would allow for peaceful protest but would draw a hard line if the protests turned toward violence or property destruction.
