Mistrial in case of S. Carolina cop who shot dead unarmed black man
The judge in the murder trial of a white former South Carolina policeman accused of shooting an unarmed black suspect in the back declared a mistrial Monday after the jury said it was deadlocked. The jury had indicated on Friday that it was within one vote of returning a guilty verdict against Michael Slager in the killing of Walter Scott after the 50-year-old fled a traffic stop and struggled with the officer on April 4, 2015 in North Charleston. Lawyers for Slager -- who could have been convicted of either murder and voluntary manslaughter -- argued that Scott's disregard for authority, aberrant behavior and aggressive actions justified the deadly encounter.