Pepper Spray By Q-Tip Trial Ends in Jury Deadlock
Jury Stops Deliberation 6-2 in Favor of Plaintiffs The eight jurors in the Pepper Spray by Q-tip trial informed the judge at 3:15 Wednesday afternoon (9/22) that they were “hopelessly deadlocked” and could not find resolution through further deliberation. After encouraging them to rethink their opinions and meeting privately with the jury foreman, Judge Susan Illston declared a mistrial. It was then that plaintiffs and defendants learned there were six jurors in favor of finding that police had used unconstitutional excessive force against the activists and only two not of that opinion. The plaintiffs are the eight activists who sued …