Judge declares mistrial in case of ex-Texas Southern president
10/12/2007HOUSTON A judge declared a mistrial today in the case of former Texas Southern University president Priscilla Slade after a jury said it couldn t decide if she misspent school funds to lavishly decorate her homes.
The jury deliberated for four days. Jurors told the judge three times in that span that they were hopelessly deadlocked and unable to reach a verdict in the trial of Priscilla Slade.
Jurors had first indicated they were deadlocked on Wednesday by an 8-4 vote. On Thursday, it had narrowed to 7-5, and by today, it was 6-6.
Slade, who spent more than six years as president of the state s largest historically black university, was facing a charge of misapplication of fiduciary property with a value over $200,000. If she had been convicted, she faced a possible prison sentence of life.
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