Syracuse Murder Case Ends In Mistrial
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SYRACUSE — The trial of a man accused of stabbing to death his estranged wife ended in a mistrial yesterday after jurors were unable to reach a verdict for a second day.
“We believe there is no possible way we can come to a unanimous verdict on any counts, even with more deliberation,” the jury wrote in a note to a state Supreme Court Judge, John Brunetti. The judge set January 28 for a new trial for Michael Neely, who is accused of killing his 45-year-old wife Linda at his home a year ago. The prosecution contended Mr. Neely killed her intentionally. Mr. Neely claimed he acted in self-defense and that his wife accidentally fell on the knife as they struggled.
Neely was in University Hospital recovering from injuries suffered in a car crash when he was arraigned on charges of manslaughter and criminal possession of a weapon.