Mistrial For Man Who Shot Intruder
A judge has declared a mistrial for Detroit homeowner on trial for manslaughter in the shooting death of a man he caught breaking into his house.
Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Michael Hathaway ruled the jury in the case against Tigh Croff was hopelessly deadlocked, after the judge reduced the charge against Croff last week from second-degree murder to manslaughter.
Police say Croff returned home last December to find 53-year-old Herbert Silas in his back yard, before chasing him down and shooting him to death.
Assistant Wayne County Prosecutor Moley Kettler said she still doesn't agree with the judge's decision to reduce the charge against the 31-year-old Croff.
"That's despite the fact that the man who was killed has stopped, raised his hands in surrender and begged for his life at the time Mr. Croff killed him, shooting him in the heart," Kettler said.
"And, Mr. Croff, told him repeatedly, as he was chasing him quite a distance, that he was going to kill him," she said.
A hearing on setting a new trial date in the case is set for August 30th.
(Copyright 2010 WWJ Radio. All Rights Reserved.)
