Day Two of Jury Deliberations – Judge Williams tells them to start over and try again…

BALTIMORE – Jurors in the trial of Officer William Porter reported Tuesday afternoon that they were deadlocked — but Judge Barry Williams sent them back to continue deliberating.

The jurors considering whether Porter is guilty of manslaughter, second-degree assault, reckless endangerment and misconduct in office had spent about nine hours deliberating when attorneys were called back into Williams’ courtroom at about 3:30 p.m. for a jury note.

Williams said the jury said they were deadlocked. The jury did not elaborate on whether they are split on all or some of the charges, or which way the panel is leaning. Williams read from a portion of the jury instructions that had been read at the outset of the deliberations, in which he said the jury must reach a unanimous decision. Without any further comment, Williams told the jury to continue deliberating.

The brief encounter in court followed a relatively quiet afternoon.

On Tuesday morning, defense attorneys unsuccessfully moved for a mistrial and change of venue based on a letter sent home to parents of city school students that referred to the possibility of unrest and violence.  (READ MORE)