Hate Crime Trial-Judge Declares Mistrial
Tue, May 11, 2010
Minutes after sending the jury back to deliberate after instructing them to continue their deliberations, Judge Patricia Di Mango received a note from the jury foreperson. “Your honor,” the note said, “one of the jurors refuses to deliberate. What do we do?”
Di Mango asked the jurors if they thought that they could return in the morning and make progress towards a verdict. The jurors shook their heads “no.”
Judge Di Mango declared a mistrial. The jury has been dismissed, and Keith Scott is remanded to custody. A new trial date will be set for this summer.
I was an alternate juror on this case and I am truly shocked and appalled that a mistrial was declared. I sincerely believe that Phoenix was guilty on all counts and cannot fathom how anyone else who saw the evidence and testimony could conclude otherwise.