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Man freed in California jury mistake killed
aol.com
A burglary defendant walked out of a Central California courtroom a free man after a jury mistakenly signed a not-guilty verdict form. Hours later, he was stabbed to death in a fight.
The flabbergasted judge said Wednesday that he had no choice but to order defendant Bobby Lee Pearson to be released from jail because the verdict of not guilty had been put on the record, The Fresno Bee reported (http://bit.ly/1s8cZjP ).
After it was too late, jurors told the judge they were hung on the charges against Pearson. Prosecutors might have had an opportunity to retry Pearson in the case of a hung jury.
"I can't believe it," Superior Court Judge W. Kent Hamlin said after he ordered Pearson to be set free.
Hours later, Pearson was stabbed to death after going to a home to get some clothing and belongings, Fresno police Sgt. James Rios said. He apparently got into a fight early Thursday with his sister's boyfriend, who Rios says then stabbed him.
The two apparently had a long history of problems. The boyfriend's name has not been released.
Superior Court Judge W. Kent Hamlin said Wednesday that he couldn't change the verdict form because double jeopardy was already attached.
"This has never happened to me in more than 100 jury trials that I have done," he said.
Pearson and two co-defendants were accused of burglarizing an apartment last year and stealing a video system and a gun. The homeowner allegedly caught the intruders and wrestled with one of them.
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