Still no verdict in murder trial

Circuit Judge Robert Crigler again denied the defense's motion for a mistrial this morning in the murder trial of Ashley Cook for the slaying of Bill Ross.

The judge studied a variety of case law and appeals decisions overnight relating to the topic of deadlocked juries. Crigler said at 9 this morning that he would ask the jury at 10:30 whether it is hopelessly deadlocked.

Jurors in Bedford County Circuit Court resumed deliberations this morning as the proceedings continued into the fifth day. No further information about today's proceedings was available at press time.

Cook, 23, is charged with first degree murder and conspiracy to commit first degree murder in the Feb. 14, 2007, murder of Bill Ross, a Shelbyville car salesman.

Defense attorney Jack Dearing moved for a mistrial a total of three times Thursday as Cook, her attorneys and the prosecution waited for a verdict from the jury.

But no decision was forthcoming. Instead, jurors asked Crigler to hear the definition of "premeditation" as it related to Cook's mental state. Crigler replied by reading the legal definition of first degree murder to the jury again.

At noon, Dearing made his second mistrial request; however, Crigler chose to ask jury members when they returned from lunch if any further deliberation and instructions would help them reach a verdict.

Several jurors nodded yes, and the 12 returned to their chambers. But at 1:40 p.m., the jury returned to the courtroom and with a show of hands, revealed that nine jurors thought they could continue, while three thought that no further progress could be made.

The jury left the courtroom and Dearing made his third request for a mistrial. But Crigler denied that request and then dismissed the jury for the day because one member had a doctor's appointment in Tullahoma.

Crigler then gave the defense and prosecution an hour to research the topic of deadlocked juries to give him guidance on the next step in the case. Attorneys from both sides gave their arguments, citing case law and appeals rulings, and Crigler said he would study them Thursday night.

On Wednesday, jurors stated in a note to the judge that 11 of their number had voted to convict Cook of first degree murder and one had voted for voluntary manslaughter. Another note said that 11 were voting for conspiracy to commit first degree murder while a single juror was voting for conspiracy to commit voluntary manslaughter.

Bill Ross was shot three times while he slept in his bed at his Wartrace Pike home last Valentine's Day. His wife, 38-year-old Kimberly Ann Ross, was sentenced to life in prison last November after pleading guilty to first degree murder for her role in planning the slaying.

District Attorney Chuck Crawford claims Cook pulled the trigger while Young, 20, allegedly loaded the gun and let Cook enter the home to shoot Ross in order to make the death look like part of a home invasion.

Dearing said earlier this week that while Cook may be guilty of pulling the trigger, she should not be found guilty of conspiracy or premeditated murder.