Mistrial declared in trial of Christian Bey, man accused of killing off-duty Pittsburgh officer Calvin Hall
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — A mistrial has been declared in the trial of Christian Bey, the man accused of shooting and killing off-duty Pittsburgh Police officer Calvin Hall at a street party in Homewood in 2019.
It has taken nearly four years to bring the case of Bey to trial. But on the second day of testimony, it all came to an end Wednesday.
Bey is on trial in the death of Hall at a street party that turned violent in Homewood in July 2019. He's accused of fatally shooting Hall multiple times in the back.
But on the stand Wednesday, a female witness said she knew Bey had been released from prison. The defense objected, and Judge Kevin Sasinoski declared a mistrial.
Bey has several prior convictions for drug possession and sales and was sentenced in 2011 to three to six years in prison. But because his criminal past is not at issue in this trial, any reference to it would be seen as prejudicial to his defense.
The defense and the prosecution are under a gag order not to discuss the case in public, but long-time criminal defense attorney Lee Rothman said the judge made the right call.
"If it is learned that a defendant has been incarcerated and has any type of criminal record, that would be a prejudicial piece of material and it would taint the jury. And that's why a mistrial would be granted," Rothman said.
The mistrial may end up helping the defense. On Wednesday, the prosecution presented a witness who identified Bey as the person who shot Hall on Monticello Street that night. On the stand, the witness indicated she was afraid and was testifying reluctantly. Now, she'll need to be called again to the stand.
But the judge isn't wasting any time. They will begin jury selection on Thursday and it will continue Friday. A new trial is scheduled to begin on Tuesday morning.