Mistrial in Gruesome Murder of George Weber

John Katehis confessed on video to murdering ABC newsman George Weber in Weber's Carroll Gardens apartment. Yet, he was not found guilty. His trial resulted in a mistrial.

"The jury split was initially 9-3 for conviction, then 10-2, and finally 11-1, juror Darryl Turner said after the mistrial," reports The Associated Press. For a murder conviction, the verdict must be unanimous.

How could one, two, or three members of a jury not be sure Katehis killed Weber after Katehis confessed? The jurors may have been sure Katehis killed Weber but they weren't sure he murdered him. In our justice system, there is a fine line between killing and murder. A killing is only, legally, considered a murder if the killer had intent to murder the victim.

Katehis was charged with second-degree "murder," which requires intent. Katehis claims he killed Weber, spontaneously, in self-defense during a sex romp gone awry. If this is true, technically, the act is not legally murder for it lacks intent. The district attorney intends to retry Katehis, who is expected back in court Nov. 3. However, the same result could take place.

The interesting aspect in this case is that Weber was stabbed 50 times; that's extremely self-defensive. Yet, "how" the victim was murdered does not prove intent.