A juror involved in the trial of George Alan Kelly, an Arizona rancher, revealed to NewsNation that there was a holdout among the jurors who disagreed on what a “reasonable person” would have done in Kelly’s situation.
Kelly was charged with second-degree murder for allegedly shooting and killing a Mexican man named Gabriel Cuen-Buitimea on his property. The prosecution claimed Kelly recklessly fired a gun at a group on his cattle ranch, while Kelly maintained he only fired warning shots into the air.
After days of deliberation, the jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict, resulting in a mistrial. The juror shared that the jury was composed of five men and three women, with a mix of Hispanic and white members. The initial vote was 6-2 in favor of not guilty, which later shifted to 7-1 after careful consideration.
The deliberations became intense at times, with one juror refusing to change their mind and viewing Kelly as guilty of second-degree murder. This juror believed that Kelly should have called 911 and waited for help instead of taking action to protect his property.
The remaining jurors were not convinced of Kelly’s guilt, citing concerns about law enforcement conduct and unanswered questions in the prosecution’s case. Prosecutors decided not to retry the case after the mistrial, allowing Kelly to return home.
