A Hamilton County prosecutor says he will try again for a murder conviction against a white University of Cincinnati police officer in the fatal shooting of an unarmed black motorist during a 2015 traffic stop.
Prosecutor Joe Deters says he will prosecute since-fired officer Ray Tensing on murder and voluntary manslaughter charges, after a Nov. 12 mistrial on those charges because of a hung jury.
He says he'd like to have the new trial in spring of next year at a different location, suggesting Cleveland or Columbus, and wants to find jurors who aren't afraid or feeling pressure.
Deters has said the jury was leaning toward a voluntary manslaughter conviction, but couldn't get unanimity after some 25 hours of deliberations.
Deters says he doesn't want race to be an issue in the case, but acknowledged it's "like the elephant in the room."
A black Cincinnati city councilwoman, Yvette Simpson, praised the decision to retry Tensing. She says she is pleased that Deters "will continue to fight for justice" for the family of DuBose.
Simpson also says in a statement that while a new venue will be logistically challenging, it could provide better opportunity for a fair and impartial trial and unanimous verdict.
Tensing's attorney, Stewart Mathews, has said a retrial "would be fruitless."
DuBose family members, the Cincinnati city council and groups including faith leaders have pushed for a new murder trial in the killing of Sam DuBose.
