Mistrial declared in Sharp case

LESLIE SHARP 3x.jpg [1]

By COLLEEN MCCARTHY
sdnreporter@yahoo.com [2]

A mistrial was declared in the case against Leslie Sharp Saturday afternoon when a juror fell ill and need immediate medical attention.
The jury was in deliberations for almost three hours, when it was announced that a woman was in distress and an ambulance had been called. When a jury starts deliberations, they cannot be separated until a verdict is reached. The woman needed to be transported to the hospital, separating her from the other jurors. Judge Lee Howard had no choice but to declare a mistrial.
Sharp, 21, stands accused of murdering Christopher Cole, 20, on November 10, 2008. Sharp was in a vehicle with Cole’s girlfriend when an argument broke out between Cole, his girlfriend, and another female occupying the car. Cole then pulled out a gun, and shot once in the air. Sharp exited the vehicle, and shot Cole shot seven times until he fell to the ground. She called 911, while she and two other females put pressure on his wounds to help stop the bleeding. Cole was declared dead at the scene. The incident occurred on Kelly Road, near the intersection of Rock Hill Road. While Sharp has never denied shooting Cole, the defense argued it was an act necessary for the defense of herself and those around her. The prosecution, however, has argued that Sharp shot Cole in the back while he was trying to walk away from the argument. The jury heard four full days of testimony before going into deliberations.
The trial will be rescheduled but details were not available at press time Saturday.