The jury in the trial of Daniel Penny, charged with the murder of a 17-year-old woman, has been unable to reach a unanimous decision, according to court officials. The jury has been deliberating for several days after hearing evidence and testimony during the trial.
Penny, 22, has been accused of murdering Lauren Simpson in a park in July 2019. Prosecutors alleged that Penny and Simpson had been together earlier that day, and that Penny had become increasingly aggressive and violent towards Simpson before ultimately killing her.
The jury has been struggling to reach a verdict, with some members reportedly wanting to convict Penny of murder, while others are pushing for a lesser charge, such as manslaughter. The failure to reach a unanimous decision means that the jury must be discharged, and the case will be retried at a later date.
The prosecution and defense are expected to review the trial and prepare for a possible retrial. The specifics of the case, including the evidence presented and any potential new evidence that could be introduced, will also be re-examined before the next trial.