After Mistrial, Another Try at Murder Conviction for Cop

An Ohio prosecutor said Tuesday he'll again seek a murder conviction against a white former University of Cincinnati cop who fatally shot a black man during a traffic stop. Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters said he wants to move the case to seat a jury that won't be feeling fear and community pressure in the Ray Tensing case, the AP reports. A judge declared a mistrial Nov. 12, when jurors deadlocked after deliberating some 25 hours on charges of murder and voluntary manslaughter in the July 2015 shooting of Sam DuBose by Tensing. Deters will retry him on both counts, but he says the murder charge is appropriate. "It's my belief that Sam DuBose was murdered. Period."

The jury of 10 whites and two blacks was seated Oct. 31 for the first trial. Tensing, 27, had testified he feared for his life when DuBose tried to drive away. Deters repeated Tuesday the shooting wasn't justified and that no one should be shot in the head for a traffic stop (DuBose was pulled over near the university campus for a missing front license plate). DuBose family members, the Cincinnati City Council, and faith leaders have pushed for a new murder trial. Prosecutors said repeatedly during the trial the evidence contradicted Tensing's story. Meanwhile, Tensing's attorney has asked the judge to acquit Tensing in the aftermath of the mistrial. A hearing on the case is scheduled for Nov. 28. (More Ohio stories.)