A mistrial was declared in the first-degree...
A mistrial was declared in the first-degree murder trial of former Auburn football star Bobby Hoppe at Chattanooga, Tenn., after the jury said it could not reach a verdict in the 31-year-old case.
Hamilton County Criminal Court Judge Joe DiRiso made the ruling after foreman David N. Reynolds said the jury was hopelessly deadlocked after four hours of deliberation. “I think further deliberation would be fruitless,” Reynolds said.
Hoppe, 53, is accused of using a .410-gauge shotgun to kill moonshine runner Don Hudson on a dark Chattanooga street early on the morning of July 20, 1957.
Hoppe testified during the seven-day trial that the shooting was self-defense, and he fired the shotgun at Hudson only after he drove up beside his car and pointed a pistol at him.
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.
