A mistrial was declared after the jury was unable to reach a verdict in the trial of an ex-Little Rock police officer who fatally shot a teenage suspect while on duty last year.
The jury in the trial of Josh Hastings returned to the courtroom around 5:30 p.m. after about five and half hours deliberating Sunday, telling Judge Wendell Griffen they were deadlocked and unable to reach a consensus. Deliberations began Saturday and continued all day before resuming Sunday.
A new trial date was set for Sept. 16.
Hastings was fired from the force and charged after the Aug. 12, 2012, shooting that killed 15-year-old Bobby Moore III.
The 27-year-old Benton man testified during the trial that the car Moore was driving was coming directly at him and he feared he was about to be run over when he fired three times.
Two of the bullets struck Moore, including one that hit the side of his head and killed him instantly.
Hastings told the jury the car continued going forward after he opened fire, traveling up a rocky embankment and then rolling backward from the area.
But prosecutors said the evidence contradicted that story and suggested the car was either stopped or already going backward when the shots were fired. Chief deputy prosecutor John Johnson termed Hastings' actions "straight-up reckless behavior."
After the trial, Griffen fined the defense $27,500 for breaking rules set during it. Griffen had barred the defense from getting into specifics about the criminal histories of the two teens who were with Moore in the car.
Read tomorrow's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.