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The Latest: Brother: Police trial gave homeless man a voice

FILE - In this Aug. 18, 2015, file photo, former Albuquerque Detective Keith Sandy, left, and Officer Dominique Perez speak with attorneys during a preliminary hearing in Albuquerque, N.M. The case against two former New Mexico police officers charged in the death of a homeless man ended in a mistrial Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016, when jurors told the judge they were hopelessly deadlocked on the counts of second-degree murder. (AP Photo/Russell Contreras, File)
Original Publication Date October 11, 2016 - 4:20 PM

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - The Latest on the case of two former Albuquerque police officers charged with second-degree murder in the death of a homeless man in 2014 (all times local):

8:15 p.m.

The brother of a homeless camper shot and killed by police in March 2014 says the rare decision by prosecutors to try two officers in the case gave the man and others like him a voice during the criminal trial.

The statement from Andrew Jones, the brother of 38-year-old James Boyd, came Tuesday evening through his attorney Shannon Kennedy.

Jurors say they couldn't reach an agreement on second-degree murder charges against the two former officers in Boyd's death, leading a judge to declare a mistrial.

Jones says Boyd's family appreciated that police had to publicly answer for the shooting that came at the end of an hourslong standoff, was captured on police video and sparked waves of protests in Albuquerque.

The family reached a $5 million settlement in Boyd's death with the city last year.

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7:30 p.m.

The sole candidate for district attorney in Albuquerque says he won't rush a decision on how to move forward with the case of two former Albuquerque police officers who were tried on second-degree murder charges in the on-duty shooting death of a homeless man.

A 12-member jury deadlocked Tuesday in weighing the fates of now-retired Detective Keith Sandy and former Officer Dominique Perez, leading a judge to declare a mistrial.

In a statement, Democrat Raul Torrez — the candidate for district attorney — said he'll consult with the special prosecutor who tried Perez and Sandy before any decision is made in the case in the New Year, when he's expected to take office.

Torrez's GOP opponent dropped out of the race for Bernalillo County district attorney in June.

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6 p.m.

The special prosecutor who tried two former police officers in the shooting death of a homeless camper says she is not surprised that jurors deadlocked on the charges against the men.

Special Prosecutor Randi McGinn said outside the courthouse Tuesday that the topic of police use of force has become a polarizing issue, and she is not surprised that 12 jurors from the community were divided over the March 2014 shooting by police in Albuquerque.

The panel was deadlocked with nine jurors in favour of a not guilty verdict and three voting guilty on second-degree murder charges against now-retired Detective Keith Sandy and former Officer Dominique Perez.

Sandy and Perez fatally shot 38-year-old James Boyd after an hourslong standoff at his campsite in the Sandia Mountain foothills.

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5:10 p.m.

A judge has declared a mistrial in a murder case against two former New Mexico police officers after the jury deadlocked on the charges.

Judge Alisa Hadfield made the declaration on Tuesday after three days of deliberations in the case involving the 2014 on-duty killing of a mentally ill homeless man in Albuquerque.

The panel was deadlocked at nine jurors in favour of a not guilty verdict and three voting guilty on second-degree murder charges against now-retired Detective Keith Sandy and former Officer Dominique Perez.

The officers killed camper James Boyd, prompting further unrest in Albuquerque over the actions of its police department amid a wave of police shootings earlier this decade.

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4:40 p.m.

The jury that is deciding the fate of two former Albuquerque police officers charged with murder in the death of a homeless man is set to make an announcement about their deliberations.

The court released a brief statement saying an announcement would be made at 4:45 p.m. local time but provided no other information.

Jurors must decide whether now-retired Detective Keith Sandy and former Officer Dominique Perez were justified in the March 2014 shooting of James Boyd, who was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. They are charged with second-degree murder.

News from © The Associated Press, 2016
The Associated Press

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