Jury Deadlocks in Second Trial of Former Officer
For the second time in six months, jurors deadlocked on whether former Inglewood Police Officer Jeremy Morse used excessive force when he slammed a teenager onto a police car during an arrest recorded on videotape and broadcast worldwide.
The jury reported it was hopelessly divided Friday morning, with six votes for conviction and six for acquittal. When asked by Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge William Hollingsworth if there were any possibility of a unanimous verdict, the foreman said, "No, your honor. I think there is no chance whatsoever."
Morse stared straight ahead as Hollingsworth declared a mistrial. At Morse's first trial in July, jurors split 7-5 against the former officer. A unanimous decision is required for conviction or acquittal.
Jeanne Clarke, a juror in the second trial, said the deliberations were agonizing.
Jurors viewed the tape more than two dozen times, she said, and disagreed on whether 16-year-old Donovan Jackson was conscious when Morse threw him on the car. Clarke said she didn't believe that the force was excessive because Jackson wasn't seriously hurt, but others disagreed.
"I don't know that you could find 12 people that agree on this," Clarke, a nurse, said Friday evening. "We all felt for Jeremy. We all felt for Donovan. The whole thing was a train wreck.
"We watched the tape backwards and forwards. We watched it frame by frame. We all saw the tape and we all saw something different," Clarke said.
Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley, who is seeking reelection in five weeks, must now decide whether to try Morse a third time. His spokeswoman said a decision is expected before Friday, Morse's next scheduled court hearing.
"Criminal cases brought against police officers are challenges for law enforcement, the criminal justice system and the community," Cooley said in a written statement. "It is unfortunate that two juries have not been able to reach a decision on this case."
If convicted, Morse, 26, could be sentenced to three years in prison for assault under color of authority. His attorney, John Barnett, said he didn't expect prosecutors to go forward with a third trial.
"I think it's the end of the road," Barnett said outside court Friday. "I don't think there will ever be a unanimous verdict in this case."
Barnett said it was hard for jurors to agree because even experts disagree about how much force can legally be used to subdue a suspect.
- Officer in Beating Loses Job Oct 25, 2002
- Officers' Trial Date Set in Assault Case Jan 30, 2003
- Charges Stand in Taped Beating Dec 21, 2002
