DETROIT, Oct. 10 (UPI) -- The second trial of a Detroit police officer involved in the fatal shooting of a 7-year-old girl during a raid ended Friday with jurors unable to agree on a verdict.
This time, Joseph Weekley, 38, faced only a misdemeanor charge of careless discharge of a firearm. The more serious charge of manslaughter was dismissed last week.
Aiyana Stanley-Jones was sleeping on a couch when police raided the house, looking for a suspected killer. The little girl was shot in the head.
Weekley's lawyer, Steve Fishman, contended the officer's gun went off after Aiyana's grandmother touched the weapon.
Jurors said they were split 7-5 in favor of acquittal and disagreed about whether Weekley was negligent in his handling of his weapon. Deliberations went on for four days.
"No matter the outcome of any jury's decision, I have already been devastated and my life has been ruined irreparably by the events that occurred on May 16, 2010. There has not been one single day that has gone by since that day where I have not thought about the loss of Aiyana and I will be haunted by this tragedy for the rest of my life," Weekley said in a statement while jurors were still deliberating.
Dominika Stanley, Aiyana's mother, remained in the courtroom wiping her eyes after the mistrial was declared. Londell Fiels, the little girl's great-uncle, said his niece does not want to sit through a third trial.
