VICKSBURG, Miss. (AP) - The Vicksburg trial of a teenager accused of fatally shooting her stepmother ended in a mistrial over the weekend.
The Vicksburg Post reports (https://bit.ly/1oDzfL6 ) that jurors late Saturday said they were hopelessly deadlocked in the case of 17-year-old Tyla Vega.
Circuit Judge Isadore Patrick dismissed the jury of eight women and four men early Sunday. They had deliberated eight hours.
Patrick is expected to set a new trial date this week.
Defense attorney Marshall Sanders contends Tyla Vega was beaten and neglected because of her race. Her biological mother is black. Her father, Jason Vega, is white, as was Michelle Vega.
District Attorney Ricky Smith argued the alleged abuse did not justify the shooting.
___
Information from: The Vicksburg Post, https://www.vicksburgpost.com
Please read our comment policy before commenting.