South Carolina

Jury foreman: 5 jurors were undecided on Slager verdict

Associated Press
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Judy Scott, center, Walter Scott's mother, is comforted by her son Rodney Scott, as the family attorneys, Chris Stewart, left, and Justin Bamberg, right, hold a press conference after the mistrial was declared for the Michael Slager trial Monday Dec. 5, 2016, in Charleston, S.C. Former patrolman, Slager, is charged with murder in the shooting death of Walter Scott last year. (AP Photo/Mic Smith) (The Associated Press)

Anthony Scott, Walter Scott's brother, speaks during a press conference in front of the Charleston County Courthouse, as the family attorneys, Chris Stewart, left, and Justin Bamberg, right, watch after the mistrial was declared for the Michael Slager trial Monday Dec. 5, 2016, in Charleston, S.C. Former patrolman, Slager, was charged with murder in the April 4, 2015, shooting death of 50-year-old Walter Scott. (AP Photo/Mic Smith) (The Associated Press)

Michael Slager, at right, walks from the Charleston County Courthouse under the protection from the Charleston County Sheriff's Department after a mistrial was declared for his trial Monday Dec. 5, 2016, in Charleston, S.C. Former patrolman, Slager, was charged with murder in the April 4, 2015, shooting death of 50-year-old Walter Scott. (AP Photo/Mic Smith) (The Associated Press)

The foreman of the jury that couldn't reach a verdict in the murder trial of a former South Carolina police officer says he initially wanted to convict Michael Slager of murder.

But after reviewing evidence, Dorsey Montgomery said Thursday on NBC's "Today" show he thought Slager was guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Walter Scott.

Jurors deliberated more than 22 hours over four days before a mistrial was declared Monday. The white former officer was charged with shooting Scott, who was black, five times as he fled a traffic stop in April 2015.

At one point, a juror told the judge he couldn't "in good conscience" convict Slager. Montgomery says that doesn't mean the other 11 jurors thought the officer was guilty. He says five of them weren't decided.