WASHINGTON COUNTY, Ga. — The trial for three Georgia sheriff’s deputies charged with murder in the death of a man who died while in their custody has ended in a mistrial.
A judge initially granted former Washington County sheriff’s deputies Henry Lee Copeland, Michael Howell and Rhett Scott immunity in the 2017 death of Eurie Martin.
The Georgia Supreme Court ruled in 2020 that the three men would have to stand trial.
According to court documents, Martin, 58, was walking down the street in 2017 when he was stopped by three deputies.
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Witnesses testified that at the time of the encounter, Martin never attacked the deputies and walked away several times.
Defense attorneys argued that Martin fought with the deputies and the deputies Tased him.
Martin died at the scene.
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After three days of deliberations, jurors could not reach a verdict, and the judge declared a mistrial.
The case could be tried again by a new jury in the future, but that has not yet been determined.
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