A judge has declared a mistrial in the case of a former Ohio vice squad officer charged in the death of a woman he shot while working undercover almost four years ago.Jurors in Franklin County deliberated for about 10 hours over three days but were unable to reach a verdict on the charges against Andrew Mitchell, 58. Prosecutors declined comment Friday on whether they planned to seek a retrial of the former Columbus police vice officer, saying the case was not yet fully adjudicated.Mitchell was indicted on murder and voluntary manslaughter charges after Donna Castleberry, 23, was shot and killed while sitting in Mitchell’s unmarked police vehicle in August 2018. He said he acted in self-defense after she stabbed him in the hand during an undercover prostitution investigation. The Columbus Dispatch reported that jurors announced a deadlock Thursday afternoon, saying seven members of the panel believed Mitchell’s actions were reasonable, two believed his actions were not reasonable and three were undecided. The jury was not supposed to include the status of their deliberations in the note, the paper said.The judge urged them Friday afternoon to keep trying to reach a verdict, but about 90 minutes later they said they were still deadlocked and a mistrial was declared.Jurors were not told about an internal Columbus police investigation into accusations that Mitchell was forcing women to engage in sexual conduct or pending federal charges accusing him of the same conduct. He has pleaded not guilty and his attorney has described the allegations as unfounded.Defense attorney Mark Collins said he and the family were disappointed that jurors hadn’t acquitted his client in Castleberry’s death.“I don’t doubt their effort,” Collins said. “We’ll continue to look at this from every angle and Andy Mitchell looks forward to his next day in court.”
A judge has declared a mistrial in the case of a former Ohio vice squad officer charged in the death of a woman he shot while working undercover almost four years ago.
Jurors in Franklin County deliberated for about 10 hours over three days but were unable to reach a verdict on the charges against Andrew Mitchell, 58. Prosecutors declined comment Friday on whether they planned to seek a retrial of the former Columbus police vice officer, saying the case was not yet fully adjudicated.
Mitchell was indicted on murder and voluntary manslaughter charges after Donna Castleberry, 23, was shot and killed while sitting in Mitchell’s unmarked police vehicle in August 2018. He said he acted in self-defense after she stabbed him in the hand during an undercover prostitution investigation.
The Columbus Dispatch reported that jurors announced a deadlock Thursday afternoon, saying seven members of the panel believed Mitchell’s actions were reasonable, two believed his actions were not reasonable and three were undecided. The jury was not supposed to include the status of their deliberations in the note, the paper said.
The judge urged them Friday afternoon to keep trying to reach a verdict, but about 90 minutes later they said they were still deadlocked and a mistrial was declared.
Jurors were not told about an internal Columbus police investigation into accusations that Mitchell was forcing women to engage in sexual conduct or pending federal charges accusing him of the same conduct. He has pleaded not guilty and his attorney has described the allegations as unfounded.
Defense attorney Mark Collins said he and the family were disappointed that jurors hadn’t acquitted his client in Castleberry’s death.
“I don’t doubt their effort,” Collins said. “We’ll continue to look at this from every angle and Andy Mitchell looks forward to his next day in court.”
