Defense attorney Paul Weber during a break in the courtroom on Monday
GOSHEN – The jury in the murder retrial of Edward Holley appeared on the verge of a mistrial Monday as deliberations continued without a verdict in Orange County Court.
Holley, 45, of Wawayanda, is accused of killing Megan McDonald 23 years ago in the Town of Wallkill. State Police arrested him in April 2023 and charged him with murder, which carries a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison.
Orange County Court Judge Hyun Chin Kim dismissed the jury at about 6:15 p.m. Monday after a full day of deliberations produced no verdict. Shortly after noon, jurors told the judge they were deadlocked. It was the third time during deliberations that the panel indicated it was unable to reach a decision since it began deliberating more than two weeks ago.
Judge Kim told jurors she would determine whether to declare a mistrial or have them continue deliberating after their lunch break.
When jurors returned to the courtroom at about 2 p.m., Kim delivered an Allen charge, which is an instruction given to a deadlocked jury encouraging members to continue deliberations and attempt to reach a unanimous verdict. The jurors, appearing tired and resigned, then returned to the jury room to continue discussing the case without coming to a decision.
According to the National Center for State Courts, about four percent of criminal jury trials nationwide end in a hung jury. Two separate juries have now spent weeks deliberating in the Holley case without reaching a verdict. A mistrial was also declared in Judge Kim’s courtroom last April during the first Holley murder trial.
Jurors returned to court Tuesday morning to resume deliberations.
©Mid Hudson News
