Criminal Justice
Client Commits Suicide Before Learning of Mistrial
A 47-year-old Washington state man apparently committed suicide this week while a jury was deliberating in a case over his alleged sexual abuse of a young relative.
But, not knowing of this development, the judge declared a mistrial yesterday after a Clark County Superior Court jury deadlocked about whether to find David E. Martin guilty, reports the Columbian.
Attorney Paul R. Bruce represented Martin, who was not in custody during the trial. According to Judge John Nichols, Martin’s 23-year-old wife also committed suicide, a year ago, the Vancouver, Wash., newspaper reports.
