Jury deadlocks in trial over burning death

Published 12:07 am Tuesday, October 17, 2017

BATESVILLE (AP) — A Mississippi judge has declared a mistrial after a jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict in the trial of a man charged with burning a woman to death.

Jurors had deliberated between nine and 10 hours in the trial of 29-year-old Quinton Tellis. The deliberations started Sunday and ended Monday, when the jury indicated that it was not able to agree on a verdict.

Tellis could have faced up to life in prison without parole had he been convicted of capital murder in the death of 19-year-old Jessica Chambers.

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It was not immediately clear whether prosecutors will retry the case.

Chambers was found walking along a road near her burning car the night of Dec. 6, 2014 in Courtland, Mississippi, about 60 miles (96 kilometers) south of Memphis, Tennessee.

Firefighters and paramedics treated her at the scene and spoke with her. She had third-degree burns over most of her body when she died hours later in a Memphis hospital.

Spectators were told to expect a verdict in the trial of a Mississippi man charged with burning a woman to death, but jurors did not reach a unanimous agreement.

Jurors initially said they found Quinton Tellis not guilty of capital murder in the death of 19-year-old Jessica Chambers. However, when jurors were polled individually, some said that they found the defendant “guilty.”

Circuit Judge Gerald Chatham told the jury to go back for further deliberations. He repeated to them that their verdict must be unanimous, or they must tell him if they are unable to reach agreement.

Defense attorneys argued the wrong man is on trial.

The 29-year-old Tellis faces up to life in prison without parole if convicted.

Emergency responders said Chambers looked like a “zombie” with burned skin and hair when they found her wandering near a road in Courtland, Mississippi, on Dec. 6, 2014.