A judge has declared a mistrial in the case of Willie James Bell Jr., who was accused of first-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of 19-year-old Layfaye King. The trial, which began on June 24 after four years of postponements, ended abruptly when the jury reported it was deadlocked.
According to court documents, the jury deliberated for approximately three hours before reporting its inability to reach a unanimous decision at 4:40 p.m. on Friday, June 26. Circuit Judge Charles Mooney Jr. instructed the jurors to continue their discussions, but they returned to the courtroom an hour later and reported no progress.
The mistrial was declared by Judge Mooney after it became clear that the jury would not be able to reach a verdict. The discharge of the jury brings an end to this phase of the trial, although it is unclear what will happen next in the case against Bell Jr.
Background: Willie James Bell Jr. was charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of Layfaye King in 2022. This marks the fourth year that the trial has been postponed due to various reasons.