State v. Taylor

HILL, J.:

**210*725Seven hours and twenty minutes into their deliberations following four days of trial, the jury in Billy L. Taylor's criminal trial informed the trial court they were at an impasse. The trial court sent the jury home for the night. The next morning, the trial court gave the jury a charge derived from Allen v. United States , 164 U.S. 492, 17 S.Ct. 154, 41 L.Ed. 528 (1896). Taylor objected to the charge and moved for a mistrial. Two-and-a-half hours later the jury returned with a **211guilty verdict. Taylor now appeals, contending his motion for a mistrial should have been…