WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) - The Latest on the verdicts of four inmates charged in the prison riot at Vaughn Correctional Center in February 2017 (all times local):
4 p.m.
The commissioner of Delaware’s Department of Correction says he’s disappointed that a jury delivered no guilty verdicts against four inmates charged in the fatal prison uprising in February 2017.
Commissioner Perry Phelps said in news release Monday that the department is disappointed but respects the jury’s decisions.
He says he’s grateful for the work of Delaware State Police and the Department of Justice which “tirelessly pursued justice on behalf of our fallen officer.” He was referring to Officer Steven Floyd, who died during the 18-hour standoff.
The News Journal of Wilmington reported that jurors returned no guilty verdicts Monday for four inmates charged with murder and riot during the uprising at Vaughn Correctional Center near Smyrna.
Twenty-six-year-old Abednego Baynes and 28-year-old Kevin Berry were acquitted of all charges after about five days of deliberation.
The jury could not reach unanimous verdicts on a riot and assault charge against 29-year-old John Bramble. Jurors also didn’t reach a unanimous decision on murder charges and a riot charge against 26-year-old Obadiah Miller. The two were acquitted of all other charges.
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3 p.m.
Prosecutors will have to decide whether they want to renew the effort to convict two inmates in the riot at the Delaware’s largest prison that killed one correctional officer.
The News Journal of Wilmington reports jurors returned no guilty verdicts Monday for four inmates charged with murder and riot during the uprising at Vaughn Correctional Center near Smyrna in February 2017.
Twenty-six-year-old Abednego Baynes and 28-year-old Kevin Berry were acquitted of all charges after about five days of deliberation.
The jury could not reach unanimous verdicts on a riot and assault charge against 29-year-old John Bramble. Jurors also didn’t reach a unanimous decision on murder charges and a riot charge against 26-year-old Obadiah Miller. The two were acquitted of all other charges.
Prosecutors must decide whether to retry Bramble and Miller. Deputy Attorney General John Downs declined comment as he exited the courthouse after the verdict.
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2:25 p.m.
The trial for four inmates charged with murder in a 2017 Delaware fatal prison riot has ended with no convictions.
The News Journal of Wilmington reports jurors returned no verdicts Monday against John Bramble and Obadiah Miller for the riot at Vaughn Correctional Center near Smyrna. They also could not come to a unanimous decision for Miller’s murder charge and assault charges for Bramble. They were acquitted of all other charges.
Abednego Baynes and Kevin Berry were acquitted of all charges.
Jurors reported earlier Monday that they were at an impasse on some charges.
Officer Steven Floyd died during the 18-hour standoff. The two other guards were released and a prison counselor was rescued by police.
Each defendant proclaimed his innocence from the stand during the four-week trial.
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1:05 p.m.
Jurors in the trial of four inmates charged in a deadly Delaware prison riot have told the judge that they’re at an impasse on some charges.
Delaware State News reports jurors passed a note Monday to Judge Jan Jurden. They are hearing charges against John Bramble, Abednego Baynes, Kevin Berry and Obadiah Miller.
The four are charged with riot, assault, kidnapping, conspiracy and murder in connection with the 2017 uprising at the James T. Vaughn Correctional Center near Smyrna. Corrections officer Lt. Steven Floyd died in the riot.
Jurden told jurors to continue deliberations but they can deliver the partial verdict later if necessary.
Defense attorney Tony Figliola said the jurors have deliberated for five days, and their note indicates they’ve decided 35 of the 40 counts.
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This story corrects 3 p.m. item and introductory line to show uprising was in February 2017, not June 2017
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Information from: The News Journal of Wilmington, Del., http://www.delawareonline.com
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