San Diego
Despite reports that a verdict was imminent, jurors in the police murder trial of Sagon Penn finished their 26th day of deliberations Wednesday without arriving at a decision.
Penn family members and spectators crowded the Superior Court hallway outside Judge Ben W. Hamrick’s courtroom throughout the day in anticipation of a verdict. On Tuesday, jury foreman Douglas Bernd told Hamrick the jury was making progress and a decision was “possible” on Wednesday.
Jurors are expected to resume deliberations at 9 a.m. today.
Penn, 24, is charged with murder in the March 31, 1985, shooting death of San Diego Police Agent Thomas Riggs and attempted murder in the shootings of Agent Donovan Jacobs and Sarah Pina-Ruiz, a civilian ride-along who accompanied Riggs.
The defense claims Jacobs, who is white, provoked Penn, who is black, by beating him and using racial slurs before the shootings.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
