Walter Scott shooting: jury unable to reach verdict in officer's murder trial

Judge instructs jury to keep deliberating after they came out
to report they could not reach consensus on charges for former
police officer Michael Slager

Oliver Laughland
Friday 2 December 2016 19.42 GMT

The jury in the trial of former police officer Michael Slager, who shot and killed unarmed African American Walter Scott as he ran away, has indicated it cannot reach a unanimous decision, throwing a cloud of uncertainty over the case.

The monthlong trial heard closing arguments on Wednesday, leaving jurors to decide whether to convict Slager, 35, on charges of murder or manslaughter.

On Friday, after over 14 hours of deliberations, the jury’s foreman indicated in a note to South Carolina judge Clifton Newman that they would not be able to reach a unanimous decision.

“It is clear that jurors will not be able to come to consensus,” the note read.

In response, Judge Newman called the jury back into the court room and urged them, under a so-called Allen charge, to continue deliberations and push for a decision.

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