Post by WaTcHeR on Apr 20, 2006 8:31:09 GMT -5
04/20/2006 - ORLANDO, Fla. -- A mistrial was declared Wednesday in the case against a 23-year-old man accused of shooting and paralyzing an Orange County sheriff's deputy.
Jeffery Forbes was charged with first-degree attempted murder on a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest with violence in connection with the shooting of Deputy Adam Pierce last October.
During testimony this week, it was clear that jurors were having trouble agreeing on some issues based on the numerous questions they asked during the debate, Local 6 reporter Chris Trenkmann said.
Prosecutors relied heavily on statements made by two sheriff's deputies but their stories conflicted at times, according to the Local 6 News report.
"Plus, there was very little physical evidence of what happened," Trenkmann said.
Circuit Judge Jose Rodriguez read a statement from the jury that led to the mistrial.
"We have been unable to reach an unanimous agreement on the both charges and do not believe that further deliberations would cause us to reach unanimous verdicts on either charge," Rodriguez said.
Forbes will continue serving a prison sentence on multiple charges.
Pierce was shot in when he spotted a suspicious person riding a bike on Orange Blossom Trail in the Holden Heights area of Orlando.
The man, identified by police as Forbes, shot at Pierce two times after he was shocked with a Taser gun, the Local 6 News report said.
Pierce said the first shot grazed his head and the second shot hit him in the back. Pierce was paralyzed in the attack and must use a wheelchair to move around.
The prosecution now has 60 days to put together a new case and re-try Forbes.
Jeffery Forbes was charged with first-degree attempted murder on a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest with violence in connection with the shooting of Deputy Adam Pierce last October.
During testimony this week, it was clear that jurors were having trouble agreeing on some issues based on the numerous questions they asked during the debate, Local 6 reporter Chris Trenkmann said.
Prosecutors relied heavily on statements made by two sheriff's deputies but their stories conflicted at times, according to the Local 6 News report.
"Plus, there was very little physical evidence of what happened," Trenkmann said.
Circuit Judge Jose Rodriguez read a statement from the jury that led to the mistrial.
"We have been unable to reach an unanimous agreement on the both charges and do not believe that further deliberations would cause us to reach unanimous verdicts on either charge," Rodriguez said.
Forbes will continue serving a prison sentence on multiple charges.
Pierce was shot in when he spotted a suspicious person riding a bike on Orange Blossom Trail in the Holden Heights area of Orlando.
The man, identified by police as Forbes, shot at Pierce two times after he was shocked with a Taser gun, the Local 6 News report said.
Pierce said the first shot grazed his head and the second shot hit him in the back. Pierce was paralyzed in the attack and must use a wheelchair to move around.
The prosecution now has 60 days to put together a new case and re-try Forbes.