A decision is likely to be made next week as to whether there will be a retrial in the case against two police officers charged with assault, following the abandonment on Monday of a County Court trial in Ballarat.
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The trial of Ballarat police officers, Leading Senior Constable Nicole Munro and Senior Constable Steven Repac began on October 24, but the jury of six men and six women were dismissed on Monday after they reported being unable to reach either a unanimous, or majority verdict.
Judge Paul Lacava adjourned the matter until 21 November and extended bail for both accused.
Repac, 29, was charged with five counts of assault and Munro, 48, one assault charge against retired detective, Yvonne Berry in a police cell on 15 January, 2015.
The County Court jury had been deliberating since 11am on Tuesday, 6 November and had returned one guilty verdict against Repac just before 3pm on Tuesday.
On Monday, a single guilty verdict against Repac for kicking Ms Berry in the leg on January 15, was formally recorded.
The jury had been twice directed to keep deliberating after they reported being unable to reach a verdict on the remaining four charges against Repac and one charge against Munro.
On Thursday, November 8, the jury were advised a majority verdict would be accepted on the remaining five charges but on Monday morning, the jury foreman advised they remained “deadlocked” on the remaining five charges and had “exhausted all considerations.”
Judge Lacava thanked the jury for their service and dismissed them, saying it was “not an easy task” to pass judgement on other members of the public.
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