Prosecutors are preparing to retry the case involving an alleged gang member, accused of fatally shooting a Chester, SC, city councilman in 2014. A deadlocked jury led the judge to declare the case a mistrial this past weekend.
Jurors could not agree on whether 19-year-old Christopher Moore was guilty of murder or acted out of self defense, when he fired a hail of bullets at Chester Councilman Odell Williams. One hit Williams in the head, killing him. The jury deliberated for several hours Friday evening and Saturday morning before informing the judge that they could not reach a unanimous decision. Prosecutor Julie Hall says she’s not giving up on getting a conviction.
“We did the best we could with what we had and we will continue on the same track and we’re prepared to go forward again,” Hall said. “We threw everything we had at and that’s what we intend to do the next time.”
Prosecutors argued that Moore and several other armed men were leaving the site of a planned robbery near Williams home and business. Williams, a former Chester policeman, began chasing them in his car. Court testimony revealed that Moore bailed out of the truck and from a ditch, fired repeatedly at Williams’ car when he passed by. The prosecution argued it was an ambush and murder. The defense claims Williams fired several shots at the truck first and that Moore fired at Williams in self defense.
