AUSTIN, Texas — Two days of deliberations still have yet to result in a verdict in the trial of Austin police officer Christopher Taylor.
The jury spent all day on Wednesday and Thursday deliberating Taylor's fate. For eight hours each day, jurors reviewed evidence and testimony as they attempt to decide whether Taylor is guilty of murdering Michael Ramos while responding to a call in 2020.
In April 2020, multiple APD officers responded to a report about possible drug dealing in the parking lot of a southeast Austin complex. The 911 caller said that a man, later identified as Ramos, had a gun – but police later confirmed they did not find a weapon.
When officers arrived at the complex, they said Ramos did not obey their commands, prompting them to use beanbag rounds on him. Then, when Ramos got into his car and started driving, Taylor opened fire.
The shooting led to a local outcry and calls for justice, amid ongoing outrage over the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
There's still no verdict, but the courtroom doors opened twice to go on record on Wednesday.
On Wednesday morning, Taylor, the defense, the state and Judge Dayna Blazey filed into the courtroom to address sticker labels that were attached to exhibits that prevented discs from being played by the jury. The issue delayed the jury from watching more evidence that could help them reach a verdict. Judge Blazey voiced her frustration.
"Everybody knows there's a standing order from the Third Court of Appeals about how exhibits have to be marked to be admissible through their court, and I'm very disappointed in the state that it doesn't appear that they followed instructions," Blazey said.
The courtroom doors opened a second time because the jury requested more evidence, like a photo of the trajectory of the shots and the transcript of two officers.
The jury will be back to continue deliberating on Monday morning.