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Court will reconvene jurors

By Staff | Mar 16, 2011

A long Monday morning was devoted to interviews of 38 prospective jurors by prosecution and defense attorneys before ascertaining that a jury could not be seated.

Tyler County Circuit Court Judge David W. Hummel, Jr., declared the proceedings a technical mistrial. Failing to impanel a jury to consider the case against Shawn Long, Judge Hummel thanked the prospective jurors for their service and remarked that “every effort will be made to seat another jury.” Judge Hummel then ordered that 50 jurors be summoned when the matter is re-set for trial.

Long, 40, of Middlebourne, has been in court several times, and has already pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor charge of battery on a police officer as well as misdemeanor DUI, and was ordered to pay restitution to Tyler County Commission and court fees for the Sept., 2008 incident. Another court appearance concerned violation of a bond agreement.

A courtroom trial that has been terminated prior to its normal conclusion, a mistrial has no legal effect and is considered an invalid or nugatory trial.