Mistrial Declared in Trial of Ex-Cop Who Fatally Shot Walter Scott (UPDATE)

The jury in the trial of ex-cop who fatally shot Walter Scott has been unable to make a decision.

December 2, 2016

UPDATE (12/5/16): Following previous reports that the jury was deadlocked in the trial of Michael Slager, the police officer involved in the fatal shooting of unarmed black man Walter Scott, Circuit Judge Clifton Newman has declared a mistrial. BuzzFeed reports jurors told the court Monday that "despite the best efforts of all members we are unable to come to a unanimous decision."

As BuzzFeed notes, Judge Newman had previously denied the defense a mistrial earlier in the day. However he reversed his position a few hours later after it was revealed the "majority" of jurors were undecided on a verdict. They had reportedly deliberated close to 22 hours over the course of four days.

USA Todayreports that Slager is also awaiting trial in a federal court. He is charged with a gun violation, violating Scott's rights, and obstruction of justice. He has been free on a $500,000 bond since January of this year.

See original story below.

The trial in the fatal police shooting of unarmed black man Walter Scott came to a halt Friday when the jury announced it was deadlocked. A bystander’s video showed Scott was shot by fired North Charleston Police Department Officer Michael Slager in South Carolina April 2015 when a traffic stop escalated.

Reutersreported that after three days of deliberation the 12-member jury announced it was deadlocked because one juror was holding out. "I cannot in good conscience consider a guilty verdict," the juror holding out told state Judge Clifton Newman in a note. "At the same time, my heart does not want to tell the Scott family that the man who killed their son, brother and father is innocent." The jury foreperson later said the jury would like to continue to deliberate.

Video showed Slager shooting Scott five times in the back as Scott ran away from him. When Slager was indicted May of this year the U.S. Department of Justice mentioned Slager lied about Scott coming at him with a taser when Slager shot his weapon.