Loading ...Hung Jury in St. Petersburg Murder Trial
Late one night in May 2008, someone murdered Angela Burgess at Lake Maggiore in St. Petersburg. Burgess was killed when nine bursts from an AK-47 rifle were fired into a car in which she was sleeping.
Deangelo Q. Hutchinson was charged with Burgess’ murder. A jury failed to agree on a verdict this week and Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge Cynthia Newton declared a mistrial. Hutchinson will be tried again.
Prosecutors say Burgess and Hutchinson went to the lake to drink with Willie Edwards, who was fishing with a friend. Burgess stayed at the lake with Edwards, and Hutchinson left. A few hours later, Burgess was killed and Edwards was injured in the shooting.
Edwards escaped by jumping into the lake and swimming away. He originally told police he was not sure who shot him and Burgess. But later, he said it was Hutchinson. Defense attorneys focused on these statements and argued that Hutchinson was not the shooter.
A guilty or not guilty verdict must be unanimous in Florida state court. If even one jury does not agree with the others, the verdict cannot be entered and the jury is described as a “hung jury.” If a jury is hung, a mistrial is declared and the prosecutors must decide whether to retry the case. In this case, they have apparently decided to do so. In other cases, the prosecutors re-evaluate the strength of the case and decide not to try the case again.