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A criminal defense attorney is reacting after a judge declared a mistrial Thursday morning in the case of Christopher Schurr, a former Grand Rapids Police officer charged in the death of Patrick Lyoya in 2022.
Randall Levine, who’s a criminal defense attorney not associated with Schurr’s case, told News Channel 3 that he’s not surprised the trial ended in a mistrial.
“I’m sure the defense is disappointed that there is no verdict,” Levine said. “On the other hand, Mr. Schurr walked out of that courtroom this morning, a free man, and had the jury convicted him of murder, he’d be in custody right now.”
Jurors received the case Monday, deliberated all day Tuesday and Wednesday, before the judge declared a mistrial Thursday. The jury told the judge multiple times that they couldn’t reach a verdict.
“They had been out a long time and it was obvious that there were some divisions there,” Levine said.
Levine told News Channel 3 that asking the jury to come to a consensus was a tall order, considering they had several options on the table. The jury could’ve convicted Schurr on Second Degree Murder, Voluntary Manslaughter, or they could’ve acquitted.
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“This is a case that had peculiarities,” Levine said. “You had a police officer charged with murder and our law in Michigan doesn’t really address the standard for a police officer when acting in self-defense.”
Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker hasn’t said whether he plans to move forward with the case. However, Levine tells News Channel 3 that the prosecution and the defense would likely change their approach if there’s another trial.
