Policeman in PlayStation shooting still under investigation

The charges may have been dropped against former Deputy Christopher Long, but it doesn’t mean he’s completely in the clear. CNN reports that the district attorney still intends to investigate into the matter.

Originally, a grand jury charged Long with the murder of 18-year old Peyton Strickland, who stole two Sony PlayStation 3 units from a student some weeks back. A reversal occurred soon after, however, as the jury foreman stated that he checked the wrong box on the indictment form by mistake.

Now, Ben David, Hanover County’s D.A., wants to look into it further, with the possibility of a new grand jury listening to new evidence or testimony against Long. While Long’s lawyer says that David should drop the case after the decision was made, nothing actually prevents David from prosecuting the former Deputy again, not even double jeopardy.

For those who don’t know, double jeopardy basically protects individuals from being charged with the same crime twice so as to avoid abuses by the prosecution. In this case, Ron Wright, a criminal procedure professor from Wake Forest University says David is free to try again. He was quoted as saying, “There’s no constitutional bar to them going back again. If you’re talking about double jeopardy, it doesn’t actually attach to the case until a trial jury is seated.”

The charges may have been dropped against former Deputy Christopher Long, but it doesn’t mean he’s completely in the clear. CNN reports that the district attorney still intends to investigate into the matter.

Originally, a grand jury charged Long with the murder of 18-year old Peyton Strickland, who stole two Sony PlayStation 3 units from a student some weeks back. A reversal occurred soon after, however, as the jury foreman stated that he checked the wrong box on the indictment form by mistake.

Now, Ben David, Hanover County’s D.A., wants to look into it further, with the possibility of a new grand jury listening to new evidence or testimony against Long. While Long’s lawyer says that David should drop the case after the decision was made, nothing actually prevents David from prosecuting the former Deputy again, not even double jeopardy.

For those who don’t know, double jeopardy basically protects individuals from being charged with the same crime twice so as to avoid abuses by the prosecution. In this case, Ron Wright, a criminal procedure professor from Wake Forest University says David is free to try again. He was quoted as saying, “There’s no constitutional bar to them going back again. If you’re talking about double jeopardy, it doesn’t actually attach to the case until a trial jury is seated.”