LITTLE ROCK, AR — The jury was unable to reach a decision on Thursday in the retrial of Josh Hastings, forcing the judge to declare a mistrial.
It’s the second time this has happened, and it’s leaving quite a few people unsettled.
More than 12 hours of deliberation still left the jury deadlocked.
The prosecution hoped for a conviction, and the defense, an acquittal. However, in the end, of at least this trial, both sides went home without either decision.
“Well, you know, it’s better than losing,” said Defense Attorney Bill James. “Mr. Hastings will get to go home, and he’s back with his family, and we’re looking forward to trying again in May.”
That’s May 5 to be exact. It’s the date when each side in the case will go at it again.
For the first time since the retrial started, the prosecutor in the case, Chief Deputy Prosecutor John Johnson, spoke to media explaining what he thinks hung up the jury.
“It’s always gonna be hard for a jury to convict the police,” Johnson said. “You have a defendant in this case who is trading on the goodwill that other excellent police officers have created in this community.”
The defense still sticks to claiming Hastings had no other choice the night the State accuses him of recklessly causing the death of Bobby Moore III.
“He was there because it was his job,” James said. “[Moore and his friends] were there because they were committing crime.”
The prosecution, however, says the defense can change how they want to address the facts. Johnson says that’s the advantage the defense has.
“By choosing just to hide behind the badge and his uniform and stay silent, he kept us from having to call other witnesses to prove that he was not telling the truth,” Johnson remarked. “They can spin certain testimony and certain facts any way that they wish. The honor of being a prosecutor is going forward with the facts that you have at hand and ensuring that the defendant gets a fair trial.”
It’s the second time this has happened, and it’s leaving quite a few people unsettled.
More than 12 hours of deliberation still left the jury deadlocked.
The prosecution hoped for a conviction, and the defense, an acquittal. However, in the end, of at least this trial, both sides went home without either decision.
“Well, you know, it’s better than losing,” said Defense Attorney Bill James. “Mr. Hastings will get to go home, and he’s back with his family, and we’re looking forward to trying again in May.”
That’s May 5 to be exact. It’s the date when each side in the case will go at it again.
For the first time since the retrial started, the prosecutor in the case, Chief Deputy Prosecutor John Johnson, spoke to media explaining what he thinks hung up the jury.
“It’s always gonna be hard for a jury to convict the police,” Johnson said. “You have a defendant in this case who is trading on the goodwill that other excellent police officers have created in this community.”
The defense still sticks to claiming Hastings had no other choice the night the State accuses him of recklessly causing the death of Bobby Moore III.
“He was there because it was his job,” James said. “[Moore and his friends] were there because they were committing crime.”
The prosecution, however, says the defense can change how they want to address the facts. Johnson says that’s the advantage the defense has.
“By choosing just to hide behind the badge and his uniform and stay silent, he kept us from having to call other witnesses to prove that he was not telling the truth,” Johnson remarked. “They can spin certain testimony and certain facts any way that they wish. The honor of being a prosecutor is going forward with the facts that you have at hand and ensuring that the defendant gets a fair trial.”
