A mistrial has been declared within the case of Southern California Choose Jeffrey Ferguson who was accused of fatally capturing his spouse in 2023 after greater than every week of deliberations.
A Los Angeles Superior Court docket made the ruling Monday when one of many twelve jurors didn’t discover that Ferguson was responsible of murdering his spouse, Sheryl Ferguson, and compelled the jury into an 11-1 impasse, in keeping with studies.
Orange County District Lawyer Todd Spitzer mentioned prosecutors are “ready to retry” the case.
“Eleven-to-one for responsible is an outstanding success,” Spitzer mentioned.
Members of Spitzer’s workplace are planning to satisfy with Sheryl Ferguson’s household within the close to future to determine on a plan of action.
“She died in chilly blood, and we’re going to get justice to the most effective of our means,” he mentioned.
Jeffrey Ferguson’s legal professional, Cameron Talley, mentioned he hopes prosecutors won’t pursue a retrial given the choose’s age and thinks “the proof exhibits there was by no means any intent to deliberately kill anyone.”
Sheryl Ferguson’s brother, Larry Rosen, was happy with the ruling, telling reporters Monday that he believes the capturing was an accident.
“To me, it exhibits the jury, a minimum of to some extent, is as conflicted as I’m,” Rosen mentioned. “I simply don’t suppose homicide is the precise name. I actually don’t.”
Ferguson, 74, is accused of capturing his spouse of 27 years at their Anaheim Hills house in Orange County on Aug. 3, 2023.
The couple had been out to dinner and consuming together with his grownup son, Phillip Ferguson, from a previous marriage, the place they started arguing. Sheryl, 65, was upset concerning the lack of gratitude his son confirmed towards them for the monetary assist the couple supplied him.
After returning to their Anaheim Hills house in Orange County, the couple continued to argue whereas watching the hit crime collection “Breaking Unhealthy.”
His spouse then dared him to level a gun at her in the course of the heated change. Ferguson then pulled a loaded gun from his ankle holster and fatally shot his spouse whereas their grownup son seemed on, prosecutors mentioned.
The choose and Phillip each referred to as 911, however Ferguson additionally texted his court docket clerk and bailiff instantly after the capturing.
“I simply misplaced it. I simply shot my spouse,” he mentioned. “I gained’t be in tomorrow. I might be in custody. I’m so sorry,”
The choose then advised responding officers — who mentioned he reeked of alcohol once they arrived on the scene — that he “can’t consider I did this.”
Investigators found 47 weapons — together with the pistol allegedly used within the capturing — and greater than 26,000 rounds of ammunition contained in the couple’s house.
He was taken into custody and freed a day later after posting a $1 million bail, however was later jailed for violating his parole by consuming. He was launched once more on $2 million bail.
Ferguson mentioned in the course of the trial that “I didn’t imply to kill her” and “it was an accident.”
Throughout their closing statements, prosecutors advised the court docket Ferguson — who started his authorized profession in 1983 as an Orange County deputy district legal professional — acquired drunk and, in the course of the argument together with his spouse, used a hid carry gun on him to shoot her.
“We’re not alleging he premeditated this crime,” Senior Deputy District Lawyer Seton Hunt mentioned. “Details don’t assist that however they do assist that he meant to kill.”
Ferguson’s blood-alcohol degree was .065 p.c when it was taken a number of hours after he shot his spouse, however an skilled testified it was possible about .17 p.c on the time of the capturing, Hunt mentioned, in keeping with NBC Los Angeles.
Ferguson additionally advised the court docket he had two or three drinks after getting house from work a number of nights every week and replied “Sure” when requested by his legal professional, Cameron J. Talley, if he saved alcohol by his desk as a result of he was an alcoholic.
with Put up wires
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