Judge declares, then retracts, a mistrial in the murder trial of a former Ohio deputy
Columbus, Ohio — A judge declared a mistrial Friday morning and then revoked it minutes later in the murder case against a former Ohio sheriff’s deputy.
Jason Meade was charged with the murder of Casey Goodson Jr. in December 2020 in Columbus. Meade, who is white, shot Goodson six times, including five in the back, as the 23-year-old black man tried to enter his grandmother’s home.
Judge David Young declared the mistrial Friday morning and then called the attorneys back almost immediately to say he had set aside the mistrial and that deliberations would continue.
“You guys are the hardest working jury I’ve ever had,” Young told the jurors.
The jury has been restless throughout the trial. One alternate was elevated to the main panel during testimony, and three jurors were dismissed and replaced after deliberations began Wednesday afternoon, forcing the jury to restart deliberations several times and leaving no alternates.
Court officials have not said why any of the jurors were removed, but they could be dismissed for a number of reasons, including if they become ill, investigate the case outside the deliberation room or talk about it to someone outside the court.
Meade is charged with murder and reckless homicide in the December 2020 slaying.
Meade testified that Goodson waved a gun at him as the two drove past each other, so he chased Goodson because he feared for his life and the lives of others. He said he ultimately shot Goodson in the doorway of his grandmother’s home because the young man turned toward him with a gun.
Goodson’s family and prosecutors have said he was holding a sandwich bag in one hand and his keys in the other when he was fatally shot. They do not dispute that Goodson may have been carrying a gun and note that he was licensed to carry a firearm.
Goodson’s gun was found on his grandmother’s kitchen floor with the safety engaged.
There is no body camera video of the shooting, and prosecutors have repeatedly claimed that Meade is the only person who testified that Goodson was holding a gun.