New Trial Ordered for Rochester Man Charged With Fatal Shooting
Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - A Rochester man was informed today that he will face another jury later this year.
26-year-old Alexander Weiss went before Olmsted County Joe Chase this morning for his first court appearance since the judge ended his first trial on a second-degree murder charge last month by declaring a mistrial and was told he would be facing another trial on the same charge later this year. Senior Olmsted County Prosecutor Eric Woodford says current plans have the retrial taking place sometime in September.
Judge Chase declared a mistrial after the jury in Weiss’ first trial was unable to reach a verdict after prosecutors presented evidence concerning a shooting in January of last year that resulted in the death of a Rochester teenager. Weiss told the jury he shot 17-year-old Mohammed Rahim in self-defense during a confrontation that erupted after the two men were involved in a minor traffic crash. The prosecution tried to show he had ample opportunity to retreat and actually escalated the confrontation when he grabbed his handgun from his car.
The jury that heard the case deliberated for about 10-hours before declaring they were hopelessly deadlocked.