Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters blames himself, at least partially, for the mistrial declared in the Ray Tensing murder trial.
"I think the person who cross-examined (Tensing) could have done a better job," he said. "And he will."
Deters -- as well as Tensing's attorney Stew Mathews and Sam DuBose's sister Terina Allen -- sat down with Carol Williams and Libby Cunningham for WCPO's This Week in Cincinnati.
"I was critical of myself and what was said in closing," he said. "I just need to do better."
Deters said he thinks confused jurors could have partially led to the mistrial in the Ray Tensing murder trial.
"The instructions are a little confusing for laypeople," he sad. "But this jury -- it was a very emotional trial for many of them. When they would return to the court room, many were crying."
Thursday, Deters spoke to Bill Cunningham on 700 WLW. The biggest surprise was when Deters said a juror told him the first meeting of jurors resulted in a 12-0 vote that Tensing was guilty of murder. Friday, he told WCPO that he wanted to clarify that the juror told him the 12-0 vote was that Tensing intentionally killed DuBose, not necessarily on the charge of murder.
"But then the discussion went to motive," Deters said.
In a separate interview, Stew Mathews said he doesn't expect his client will get off without a retrial.
"Ray is depressed. He was hoping by now this would be over one way or another," he said. "I think he would prefer being cleared, but if there is no retrial he goes on with his life. I don't think that's what will happen here."
At the same time, Sam DuBose's sister Terina Allen said her family's life is on pause waiting for Deters' decision whether or not to retry.
"We're not (coping)," she said. "We're just kind of holding out breath, waiting to hear if there's a retrial.
"People ask us if we hate Ray Tensing," she said. "We don't hate Tensing. We want justice."
You can watch This Week in Cincinnati on WCPO - 9 On Your Side at 11 a.m. Sunday.
