The first murder trial of accused serial killer Billy Chermirmir has ended in a mistrial after the jury was unable to reach a verdict. He was on trial in Dallas County for the murder of 81-year old Lu Thi Harris. She is one of 18 people he is accused of killing.
Jurors began deliberating the case Thursday afternoon. They were allowed to go home Thursday night and resumed their deliberations this morning.
The jury had sent out several notes indicating that members were unable to reach a verdict. A note sent out this morning said there was one juror who was unwilling to change her mind. The judge instructed them to keep deliberating. A second note about an hour later described the jury as "hopelessly deadlocked", 11 to 1. Two motions by Chermirmir's defense team for a mistrial were overruled.
After a fourth note was sent out reiterating the jury's position, the judge declared a mistrial.
A mistrial means that Chermirmir could be re-tried in the death of Harris. He's also facing several other murder charges in Dallas County and additional murder charges in Collin County.
Prosecutors presented four days of evidence they say ties Chemirmir to the March 2018 death of Harris, but also presented proof that Chemirmir killed one other woman and attempted to kill another by smothering.
The defense did not present a case, but argued the State did not prove Chemirmir was the attacker.
One of the final witnesses was an FBI agent who specializes in cell phone tracking. He was able to put Chemirmir in the location of victim Kim Harris at the time she was believed smothered, and then selling her ring online within nine minutes
A member of one victim’s family said there was a gasp in the family viewing room when that happened. One jewelry broker said he, alone, paid Chemirmir more than $91,000 for jewelry over the last few years.
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Chemirmir is suspected of killing elderly people by smothering in order to steal and sell their jewelry and other possessions.
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