Just hours after he was released from prison because of a California jury's error, an accused burglar was killed in a violent fight.
"Thirty-seven-year-old Bobby Lee Pearson was accidentally released when a jury in Fresno, California, filled out a not guilty form instead of telling a judge they were deadlocked." (Via Fox News)
"Police say that Willie Gray, the boyfriend of Pearson's sister, killed him during a dispute when he returned home." (Via KGPE)KFSN reports Pearson had at least five felony convictions for domestic violence, being a felon in possession of a gun and other crimes.
On his latest burglary charge, the case was dismissed — but it wasn't because the jury thought he was innocent.
According to The Fresno Bee, the jury meant to tell the judge they were deadlocked because all 12 jurors couldn't reach a unanimous verdict.
But they said they were confused by the verdict forms and accidentally signed a not guilty form.
After the court realized the mistake, the paper quotes the judge as saying, "I can't believe it. ... I can't change it because double jeopardy has already attached.
This has never happened to me in more than 100 jury trials that I have done." (Via The Fresno Bee)
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