The Associated Press
ST. LOUIS (AP) -- A 19-year-old will be retried on a charge of killing a St. Louis police officer during a police pursuit of a stolen car, after a judge declared a mistrial Friday.
A St. Louis jury began deliberations in the case of Deon Hampton on Thursday, and at one point, said it was having trouble reaching a verdict on a murder charge against him.
The judge instructed the jury to keep working. But on Friday, the jury said it was at a stalemate.
The jury did find Hampton guilty of a second count, resisting a lawful stop.
Hampton, 19, of St. Louis was the alleged driver of a stolen car Aug. 29, 2002, when Officers Michael Barwick, 27, and Jenna Christian, 24, gave chase.
The police cruiser collided with a van, flipped, and burst into flames. Barwick died a short time later. Christian suffered serious injuries. Two other officers were treated for injuries suffered when they pulled their colleagues from the burning car.
Prosecutors say because Hampton was committing a felony when the officer died, it’s a case of murder.
Christian testified she doesn’t recall either chasing a stolen car or crashing in the police cruiser. A police fingerprint expert testified Hampton’s prints were only on the outside of the stolen vehicle, not the inside.
But another witness testified Hampton was the driver. Stepphion Sutton, 20, told the jury he was a passenger in the stolen car while Hampton was driving.
Last year, Sutton pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the officer’s death.
There’s also conflicting testimony on whether the police cruiser had on flashing lights during the chase.
Police Chief Joe Mokwa has said the teenagers were part of a gang that stole more than 30 cars -- all Chryslers -- mostly from St. Louis County, then took them to the city’s north side. There, the teens would charge $50 for use of the stolen cars.