Hung jury... Jurors told to reconsider after 4-3 split decision in murder trial of ex-cop

The seven jurors in the murder trial of former police constable Mark Russell have been sent back to the jury room to reconsider their decisions after a 4-3 split in the murder trial of former police constable, Mark Russell.

After four hours and 39 minutes deliberating, the jurors were unable to reach a unanimous position.

Presiding judge, David Fraser, after consultations with the prosecutor and defence counsel, sent back the jurors to continue their deliberations.

"There has to be some give and take, that’s how agreements are reached," Fraser told the jurors as he gave them further directions.

The five women and two men retired to the jury room at 10:36 this morning.

Russell is on trial for the July 2007 murder of 18-year-old Ravin Thompson.

During the trial, three members of the Jamaica Defence Force testified that Russell placed a police-issued M16 rifle in Thompson’s hands then took it back before the teen was shot several times by another police constable, identified as Morris Lee, along Darling Street in downtown Kingston.

Russell has denied the allegations and accused the soldiers of lying.