Mistrial In Penalty Phase In Officer’s Slaying

SHREVEPORT, La. (AP) — A judge has declared a mistrial in the penalty phase of case in which a man was facing the death penalty in the slaying of Shreveport police Sgt. Timothy Prunty.

Christopher Cope was convicted this week in the 2010 killing. KSLA-TV reports that jurors deadlocked on whether he should be executed for the crime.

The mistrial means cope won't be sentenced to death.

The slain sergeant's nephew, Matthew Prunty Jr., said his family is "sad and disgusted" that jurors didn't agree on the death penalty.

Caddo District Court Judge Mike Pitman had the jury polled on whether further deliberation might help determine a different outcome, and the result was unanimous that more discussions would not make a difference.