A MISTRIAL HAS BEEN DECLARED IN THE FIRST DEGREE MURDER TRIAL OF 63-YEAR-OLD THOMAS POPP IN WOODBURY COUNTY DISTRICT COURT.
JUDGE TOD DECK DECLARED A MISTRIAL SHORTLY AFTER 2P.M. BECAUSE THE JURY WAS DEADLOCKED AND UNABLE TO REACH A VERDICT IN THE CASE.
JUDGE DECK CALLED THE JURY BACK INTO THE COURTROOM AND QUESTIONED EACH JUROR INDIVIDUALLY, STARTING WITH THE FOREPERSON:
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ALL OF THE JURORS STATED THEY WOULD NOT REACH AN AGREEMENT:
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THE JUDGE THEN DECLARED THE MISTRIAL:
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THOMAS POPP WAS CHARGED IN THE 1983 SHOOTING DEATH OF 18-YEAR-OLD TERRI MCCAULEY, A NATIVE AMERICAN WOMAN..
THE MISTRIAL DECISION CAUSED MANY OF MCCAULEY’S FAMILY WHO HAD ATTENDED THE TRIAL TO BEGIN WEEPING AND ONE WOMAN YELLED LOUDLY:
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SHE THEN WAS ESCORTED FROM THE COURTROOM WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.
POPP’S ATTORNEY AGAIN ASKED JUDGE DECK TO ACQUIT HIS CLIENT, BUT THE JUDGE DECLINED TO RULE ON THE MOTION AND CONCLUDED THE HEARING.
POPP REMAINS IN CUSTODY ON THREE MILLION DOLLARS BOND.
