Judge in Manny Ellis trial tells jury to start deliberations over from scratch

TACOMA, Wash. — The judge in the trial of three Tacoma officers accused in the 2020 death of Manuel Ellis says the jury must start its deliberations over from scratch after a change in a juror’s status.

According to a news release from the Pierce County Superior Court:

A juror’s status was changed from seated to alternate because of their unavailability due to a family concern. An alternate juror has joined the other 11 jury members and they have been instructed to restart deliberations.

In his instructions to the jury, the judge told the jury members that they had to start their deliberations over because the alternate juror was not present when deliberations began last Thursday.

Tacoma Police officers Christopher Burbank and Matthew Collins are charged with second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter. Timothy Rankine is charged with first-degree manslaughter.

Ellis died in police custody, and jurors will decide if the officers are responsible.

Prosecutors say the officers used excessive force that led to Ellis’s death.

The defense pointed to Ellis’s use of methamphetamine and an enlarged heart.

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