The former North Charleston, S.C., police officer charged in the murder of motorist Walter Scott will be retried March 1, reports CNN.
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A state judge declared a mistrial in the case earlier this month after jurors could not unanimously reach a decision to convict Michael Slager.
Although Slager was caught lying about the April 4, 2015, encounter, in which video captures him shooting Scott several times in the back and placing his Taser near Scott’s body, the jury failed to reach a guilty verdict after four days and more than 24 hours of deliberation.
Of the 12 jurors, 11 black and one white, one juror, in a note, said that he couldn’t vote for a conviction and wouldn’t change his mind, despite the fact that the judge on the case allowed the jury to consider a lesser offense of voluntary manslaughter.
Prosecutors charge that Scott, a father of four, ran after Slager stopped his car for a broken taillight because he feared going to jail for unpaid child support. They assert that Slager pursued and killed Scott even though his life was not in danger.
An emotional Slager testified that even at 18 feet away, Scott still posed a threat to him and could have turned around and charged him.
If convicted of either charge, Slager faces 30 years to life in prison.
Additionally, Slager is being tried in federal court May 1, according to CBS News. In the federal case, Slager is charged with violating Scott’s rights under the color of law, lying to investigators and using a firearm in a violent crime. For those charges, he faces a term of life in prison.
Read more at CNN and CBS News.
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