CINCINNATI -- With the possibility of a hung jury in Ray Tensing’s murder trial, some community figures encouraged the public to remain calm.
“If you need to exhale, scream, even holler, whatever,” Bishop Bobby Hilton said. “But, just stand by -- let the process -- we have to give the process an opportunity to work.”
Judge Megan Shanahan told the jury to continue deliberating at about noon Friday after they said they could not reach a unanimous verdict.
RELATED: Ray Tensing trial: Jury says it can't reach verdict; judge tells them to keep deliberating
Hilton, of Word of Deliverance Ministries, said members of the community should not be upset by a hung jury.
“There’s no reason to get really upset because it’s going into the hands of people that are accustomed to doing things like that,” Hilton said. “We have to wait on the next word from the prosecutor.”
RELATED:Demonstrations grow outside courthouse as jurors debate Ray Tensing's fate
Defense attorney Carl Lewis said the community’s reaction to the verdict in Ray Tensing’s murder trial is a major concern.
“The concern is going to be, do these protesters get agitated even more, get upset,” Lewis said. “So now, the security measures that we’ve all been talking about are going to kick in because we’re not sure what the response is going to be from the community.
“I would just urge everyone to use caution. The system, a lot of people argue is not perfect, but it is our system. It is the best system of justice and let the prosecutors decide what they’re going to do.”
