A Sonoma County jury failed to reach a verdict in the murder trial of a Santa Rosa man accused of arranging the killing of a rival in a dispute over drug turf.
An assistant for Judge Ken Gnoss said Thursday that a the mistrial was declared just before noon in the case of Omar Chavez, who was being tried in the the 2005 slaying of Semere Haile Girmai, also of Santa Rosa, at a Bennett Valley apartment.
The jury began deliberations Oct. 15 following more than two weeks of testimony. It stopped for a re-reading of witness testimony, a normal occurrence in deliberations.
But Thursday morning, the jury announced it could not reach a unanimous verdict. Chavez, 26, faced three felony counts with gang enhancements.
Neither prosecutors nor defense attorneys could be reached for comment.
Prosecutors contend Chavez arranged for a friend, Ricardo Puentes, to gun down Girmai to '"squash a problem" connected to competition over illicit drug sales. Puentes remains at large and is thought to be in Mexico.
Chavez was arrested in Florida in 2007.
Witnesses to the shooting testified at trial that Chavez appeared calm as Puentes fired at least five rounds into Girmai's head and chest during a small gathering at a Hoen Avenue apartment. Deputy District Attorney Traci Carrillo described Puentes as Chavez's "muscle."
Defense attorney Erik Babcock said Chavez had nothing to do with the death. He said Chavez went with Puentes to the apartment to talk to Girmai about their differences and was surprised when the shooting started. He said Chavez and "Streets," as Girmai was known, had been friends.
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