Mistrial In Anthony Gay Case

By: Stefanie Boe, News 13 Producer

A mistrial in the murder case of Anthony Shariff Gay. The jury that convicted him of murder could not decide if he should die for his crimes.

It's the first full murder trial in Pima County under new death penalty laws requiring juries to decide punishment in death penalty cases.

Jurors convicted Gay of murder in the 2001 stabbing death of 20-year-old Stacy McKeown. Thursday, the jury began deliberating his sentence, but they could not reach a verdict.

We're told they would have had to start deliberating all over again Friday morning. One of the jurors was leaving on vacation and an alternate would be taking his place. The panel felt it would not have made a difference.

A new jury will have to be picked to decide Gay's punishment.

A hearing is set for next month to decide when that will happen.