Mistrial declared in trial of former S.C. police chief charged with murder of unarmed black man

[muriel_volestrangler]

Source: Washington Post

On May 2, 2011, former Marine Richard Combs was the police chief of and the only police officer in Eutawville, S.C. — a town of less than 400 people.
...
At town hall, Combs argued with Bailey. As the New York Times reported, Combs said he was belligerent when confronted with a warrant for obstruction of justice. When Combs tried to arrest him, the argument moved outside. Bailey got into to his truck and tried to back out, possibly trapping the police chief with his driver’s side door. And then Combs shot him dead.
...
Early this morning, a judge in South Carolina declared a mistrial in the Combs case after a jury of seven African Americans and five whites reported a deadlock after only 12 hours of deliberation.
...
The prosecutor said he would try Combs again, according to the Associated Press.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/01/13/mistrial-after-former-s-c-police-chief-charged-with-shooting-unarmed-black-man/

[mercuryblues]

1. other

reports I have read on this, basically say Combs got the warrant basically because Bailey questioned his athoritay.

[leftynyc]

2. Retrials often

favor the prosecution. They know what mistakes they made the first time.

[uppityperson]

3. thanks for the update, I hope he is tried again

[Demit]

4. 'Combs’s defense said Bailey should have just done what the police chief said.

“This could’ve been solved in the court system had Mr. Bailey complied with the arrest,” John O’Leary, Combs’s lawyer, said. “The minute Bailey put that car in reverse, that was basically cocking a gun.”'

And that's the nut of it right there. The frightening attitude that's taking hold across the country.

Btw, the NY Times article referenced by WaPo has a fuller account of the series of events, showing how this cop threw his weight around on the job, and then whined on the stand how he "feared for his life" when the guy got into his truck to drive off. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/14/us/ex-police-chief-richard-combs-bernard-bailey-south-carolina.html?_r=1