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Article: Child abuse/murder trial ends in hung jury -- by one vote.(Originated from Knight-Ridder Newspapers)
- Article from:
- Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service
- Article date:
- May 16, 1996
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1996 Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. _ Swayed by a taped confession, a bruised corpse and testimony of sadistic punishment, 11 jurors judged John Zile guilty of first-degree murder, but it takes 12.
And that 12th juror steadfastly believed Zile was guilty of second-degree murder, leading to a mistrial Thursday in one of South Florida's most disturbing child-abuse cases.
The case _ which included painfully graphic descriptions of 7-year-old Christina Holt's final weeks of life in an abusive household _ will have to be tried again.
``We're ready to try the case again tomorrow if the judge would allow us,'' said Scott Cupp, Palm Beach County prosecutor.
Jurors ...