Ariz. judge declares mistrial in 1991 temple killings case after jurors say they're at impasse

Published January 13, 2015

An Arizona judge has declared a mistrial in the case of a man charged with killing nine people at a suburban Phoenix Buddhist temple in 1991.

The judge's mistrial declaration Thursday means 39-year-old Johnathan Doody will face another retrial.

The retrial that ended Thursday began Aug. 12 because an appeals court had overturned his previous conviction. The jury had deliberated for about seven days over two weeks when they informed the judge Wednesday they had reached an impasse.

Deliberations began Sept. 24. One juror was removed and replaced after complaining the case had become too emotional. The reconfigured panel began deliberations anew Oct. 3, but jurors complained again that a separate juror was refusing to deliberate further.

Doody originally was convicted in 1993 and sentenced to 281 years in prison.

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https://www.foxnews.com/us/ariz-judge-declares-mistrial-in-1991-temple-killings-case-after-jurors-say-theyre-at-impasse