Lowndes Circuit Court Judge Lee Howard Thursday declared a mistrial for defendant Justin Richardson. The decision came after the jury, which deliberated for almost two hours, could not reach a unanimous decision. Richardson was charged with armed robbery in connection with the Oct. 23, 2011 robbery of Hudco Superette in Steens. He was arrested on Nov. 20 by officers with the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office at the age of 21.
Richardson’s attorney, Donna Smith, said the vehicle originally identified at the scene of the crime — a silver BMW sport utility vehicle — and the car Richardson was driving at the time of his arrest — a gold Nissan owned by his mother — were not the same vehicle and there was no physical evidence to connect Richardson to the crime.
Also at question was Richardson’s size. The suspect in the crime was originally described as a black male, “5 feet 4 inches tall to 5 feet 7 inches” tall with a slim build.”
Richardson, whose arrest record noted his height at 5 feet 6 inches and his build as medium, listened patiently to testimony Thursday, taking notes and discussing it with Smith.
Richardson’s case was prosecuted by District Attorney Forrest Allgood.
Jeff Clark was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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