Mistrial Declared In MonView Heights Double Murder Case
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - The trial of a man accused in a double homicide at a West Mifflin housing complex has resulted in a mistrial.
The mistrial was declared after the jury could not break a deadlock on Thursday.
"Hung is better than guilty, especially when you're innocent," said Courtney Krista, the defendant's sister. "So, yes, it was a good day."
The family of Richard Krista had mixed emotions about the latest mistrial in his double homicide case.
He's charged in the shooting deaths of Cody Ruder and Joseph Sherrill at the MonView Heights housing complex back in May of 2012.
The prosecution's case is largely circumstantial with witnesses who say they heard Krista vow to use a gun if necessary to settle a dispute over a woman.
The defense pointed out that there's no physical evidence putting the gun in Krista's hands.
This jury visited the crime scene last week in an effort to come up with a verdict, but had no more success than the last jury which couldn't reach a verdict.
"I'm relieved, but it's kind of mixed emotions I'm feeling," said Ramona Krista, the defendant's mother. "I don't know if we're going to have to do this all over again. It's very stressful."
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