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IN: Carlson murder trial jury tells judge it can't reach unanimous verdict
Submitted by: Mark A. Taff
Website: http://www.marktaff.com

There are 5 comments on this story
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Carlson, 46, and his lawyers say he acted in self-defense when he shot Acosta-Sanchez, 35, of Ramapo outside the home of one of Carlson's neighbors in Sparrowbush. Carlson's defense team is led by lawyers Benjamin Ostrer and Michael Mazzariello.

Acosta-Sanchez was wanted on a second-degree rape warrant and had eluded a police manhunt the day before the Oct. 11, 2013 shooting.

Prosecutors from the Westchester County District Attorney's Office say Carlson is a vigilante who took matters into his own hands, and got in over his head.

Comment by: mickey (11/5/2016)

Sounds like at least one juror believes in dead rapists.

Comment by: jac (11/5/2016)

It's called jury nullification. Just don't mention that you even know the term. Judges in most states won't even allow talk about the concept but it is legal and part of established law.

They should give the defendant a medal instead of trying him for homicide. Sounds like he rid society of a PO S that didn't deserve the oxygen he was using.

Another concern of mine is that they charged him with second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter and second-degree manslaughter. They do this so that it allows the majority of a jury to bully any holdouts into a compromise verdict. The prosecution should have to choose the charge they want to use and not offer the jury a choice. (Con't)

Comment by: jac (11/5/2016)

It takes a strong individual to stick to his convictions when he is the lone holdout and subject to coercion by the other twelve. That is why hung juries are few and far between.

Comment by: mickey (11/6/2016)

Seems hard to convict:
"Ferrara said he peeked out a front window just as Carlson fired a second shot with his arms raised in classic shooting position, aiming - it seemed - for the center of mass. Acosta-Sanchez was reaching his right arm toward Carlson, so that his hand was maybe a foot from the gun barrel, Ferrara said.

"David was, in my opinion, off balance, backwards, backpedaling," Ferrara testified. "And Acosta-Sanchez - I can't say he was lunging or anything, but appeared to me to be in a position you would be in if you were reaching or lunging."

Acosta-Sanchez fell instantly, he said. "It wasn't a theatrical fall. It was a collapse."

Comment by: mickey (11/6/2016)

They charged him because he made the police look bad?

"One of Mr. Carlsons lawyers, David Wallace, suggested on Friday that some sloppy police work may have contributed to Mr. Acosta-Sanchezs death.

After learning of the warrant, Mr. Carlson called the Deerpark police, Mr. Wallace said, and set up a ruse. Mr. Carlson would take Mr. Acosta-Sanchez for a drive and the police would pull the car over for speeding.

The ruse worked, and Mr. Acosta-Sanchez was placed in a police car. But then, Mr. Wallace said, Mr. Acosta-Sanchez told officers that he needed his identification. They drove him to the cabin, he went inside and then he slipped away into the woods."