Jury deadlocks in West Covina fatal stabbing trial

POMONA — A Pomona Superior Court Judge declared a mistrial Wednesday in the case of a Whittier man accused of fatally stabbing a West Covina man outside a 2011 Halloween party after the jury deadlocked, authorities said.
Andrew Edward Meza, 37, was charged with murder and assault likely to produce great bodily injury in connection with the fatal stabbing of Nicholas Bernard Botiller, 26, outside a party in the 1000 block of South Meeker Avenue in West Covina in the early-morning hours of Nov. 1, 2011, according to West Covina police and Los Angeles County District Attorney’s officials.
The jury began deliberating Tuesday morning before announcing they could not reach a unanimous decision Wednesday afternoon, D.A.’s spokeswoman Shiara Davila-Morales said.
“Judge Robert Martinez declared a mistrial,” she said. ”
It was not clear Wednesday if Meza would face a second trial.
“The D.A.’s office will be back in court July 1, at which time we will announce how we intend to proceed,”
The exact number of jurors in favor of guilt and acquittal was not available, however court officials said the deadlocked favored acquittal.
Botiller had just left the party and was congregated with a group outside when witnesses reported a commotion, then seeing Botiller stabbed, West Covina police Cpl. Rudy Lopez said at the time. He died a short time later at a hospital.
Meza was arrested in connection with the fatal stabbing in May of 2012, and has been held in lieu of $1 million bail ever since.

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