Murder Case That Lost Juror Ends in Mistrial

A Torrance Superior Court judge on Monday declared a mistrial in a murder case in which one juror was removed after others charged he was biased against police officers and another juror received a threatening telephone call, apparently for his role in that decision.

Judge Cecil Mills said the mistrial was necessary after juror Stanley Kielniarz told other jurors that he was threatened by a caller who accused him of being a Ku Klux Klan member. Last week, Harold Winston, the sole black member of the jury, was removed after Kielniarz and other jurors said he made statements indicating bias against police officers.

Winston denied that accusation and said he believes racism played a role in his removal. The defendant, Mack Charles Moore, is black. The case involved a raid and shooting by white Gardena police officers. Deputy Dist. Atty. Gilbert Garcetti said he would try the case again.