The Bryan-College Station Eagle posts, "Judge declares mistrial in Falk capital murder case after 55-day delay," this morning. It's by Maggie Kiely.
District Judge Ken Keeling Monday morning declared a mistrial in the capital murder trial of John Ray Falk Jr.
Brazos County jurors returned after 55 days of trial delay to hear closing arguments but instead were dismissed after Keeling explained he didn't believe they could remain impartial in reaching a verdict considering the highly unusual circumstances.
“Asking jurors to return a verdict in a complicated case such as this places an impossible and unconscionable burden on them,” Keeling said.
“I don't believe justice can be done in this case when y'all were sitting on the sidelines for 55 days,” he said.
The article notes that the prosecutor intends to retry the case and seek the death penalty.
A Saturday Eagle report by Kiely is, "Capital murder case to resume: Judge blunt in comments regarding appeals court." Kiely also wrote, "Appeals court approves change to jury instructions in murder trial," which appeared in the January 17th edition of the Eagle.
The Court of Criminal Appeals ruling and Judge Tom Price's dissent are available in Adobe .pdf format.
Earlier coverage of the case begins at the link.
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