Judge declares mistrial in fire killing teen, 8-year-old [Houston Chronicle]
<p><chron>Oct. 08</chron>--Pastor <person>Raymond Farley Sr.</person> sat with his wife, Karen, both with tears in their eyes, and listened to a <location value="LU/us.tx.houstn" idsrc="xmltag.org">Houston</location> judge declare a mistrial on Friday in a case involving the death of their teenage son.</p><p>The jury was deadlocked in the case of <person>Sharon Watkins</person>, who, along with her husband, is accused of setting her northwest <location value="LU/us.tx.harris" idsrc="xmltag.org">Harris County</location> home on fire to collect insurance money. Farley's 16-year-old son and Watkins' 8-year-old daughter died in the blaze.</p><p>"She'll get her just due," said Farley, pastor at <org>Greater New Sanctuary Missionary Baptist Church</org>. "If not in the criminal justice system, then in eternity."</p><p>Jurors Friday sent out several notes saying they were deadlocked: seven for guilty and five for not guilty.</p><p>State District Judge <person>Hazel Jones</person> noted that the jurors deliberated about 16 hours over two days before gaveling the trial officially over late Friday.</p><p>One juror, <person>Randy Mautz</person>, said there were few tears and little yelling as he and six others tried to persuade the other five jurors to convict.</p><p>"For some of us, it wasn't very tough at all," Mautz said of his belief that Watkins was guilty.</p><p>"We just agreed to disagree," he said.</p><p>The other 11 jurors declined to comment.</p><p>The <chron>May 17, 2003</chron>, fire at the home in 6500 block of <location>Trail Valley Way</location> killed <person>Shanda Watkins</person> and <person>Raymond Farley Jr</person>. The teen's parents were family friends of Watkins and her husband.</p><p><person>Todd Dupont</person>, an attorney for Watkins, said he believed testimony from an arson expert the defense called swayed the jury.</p><p>"If there was no arson, there was no murder," Dupont said.</p><p>Watkins, 47, and husband, <person>David Watkins</person>, 51, are both charged with two counts of felony murder.</p><p>Prosecutors said the conclusion was disappointing.</p><p>"It was a difficult case, and it was very difficult for them," said Assistant Harris County District Attorney <person>Colleen Barnett</person>. "For some, there were questions about what went on in the house and who set the fire."</p><p>Barnett said prosecutors now have to decide whether to retry Watkins, who faces a maximum of life in prison if convicted of felony murder. The charge alleges that a death occurred during the course of a felony, in this case arson.</p><p>Watkins also faces charges in two robberies.</p><p>Her husband is scheduled to be tried separately.</p><p><a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a><a href="http://twitter.com/@chron_rogers">twitter.com/@chron_rogers</a></p><p class="shirttail">___</p><p class="shirttail">(c)2011 the Houston Chronicle</p><p class="shirttail">Visit the Houston Chronicle at www.chron.com</p><p class="shirttail">Distributed by MCT Information Services</p>
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