Mistrial declared in killing of black man by ex-Cincinnati police officer

CINCINNATI, June 23 (Reuters) - For the second time, a mistrial was declared in the murder trial of a white former University of Cincinnati police officer who fatally shot a black motorist during a traffic stop.

Officer Ray Tensing shot once, hitting 43-year-old Samuel DuBose in the head after stopping him for a missing front license plate on his car in July 2015, a body camera worn by Tensing showed.

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Tensing, 27, was charged with murder and voluntary manslaughter in a retrial of the case. A mistrial was declared last November after jurors could not agree on a verdict. Tensing has said through both trials that he feared for his life during the traffic stop.

"At this time this court is in a position and will have to, as a result of the jury being unable to reach a verdict, declare a mistrial in this case," Judge Leslie Ghiz said after jurors at the Hamilton County Common Pleas Court in Cincinnati said they were hopelessly deadlocked for a second time Friday.

Friday's mistrial came after more than 30 hours of deliberations, which started on Monday. (Additional reporting and writing by Timothy Mclaughlin in Chicago; Editing by Jonathan Oatis, Bernard Orr)

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