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Judge declares mistrial in fatal police shooting of Walter Scott

Slager was facing 30 years in prison if found guilty.
Michael Thomas Slager

(CNN) — The judge in the murder trial of former North Charleston, South Carolina, police officer Michael Slager has declared a mistrial after jurors were unable to reach a verdict after several days of deliberations.

Slager shot and killed Walter Scott, an unarmed black man, after a 2015 traffic stop. It wasn’t immediately clear whether Charleston County prosecutors will seek a retrial.

Deliberations resumed Monday morning, following a long Friday filled with drama.

During one deliberation Friday, a male juror took the unusual step of writing the judge a note, saying he couldn’t vote for a conviction and wouldn’t change his mind.

“I still cannot without a reasonable doubt convict the defendant,” the male juror wrote. “I cannot and will not change my mind.”

A note from the foreman said that juror was the only one having the issue.

If convicted of murder, Slager faces 30 years to life in prison.

Judge Clifton Newman allowed the jury, which began deliberating Wednesday night, to consider the lesser offense of manslaughter, which carries a potential sentence of up to 30 years in prison.

South Carolina law says that a judge can only once instruct the jury to return to deliberate more. Newman did, and when the jurors returned, he explained they would have to consent to more time or they could indicate they were hopelessly deadlocked.

The foreman said they would continue to discuss the case.

After more time, the judge stopped them again and asked whether they were deadlocked still or needed further time. The jury could use more time, the foreman answered.

Jurors deliberated until about 6 p.m. Friday before Newman sent them home.

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