After the murder trial of Orange County Judge Jeffrey Ferguson ended in a mistrial on Monday, Ferguson spoke exclusively with NBC Los Angeles on Thursday. Ferguson, who was charged with the murder of his wife, Sheryl, shared his perspective with NBCLA’s Hetty Chang at his Anaheim Hills home, where the incident occurred.
During the interview, Ferguson explained that the shooting was accidental, stating, “I’m not getting away with anything because I lost her, and she lost her life.” He expressed mixed emotions about the mistrial, feeling both relieved and disappointed. The jury was deadlocked 11-1 in favor of a guilty verdict for second-degree murder, unable to reach a unanimous decision.
Ferguson described the experience of being on trial as surreal, likening it to “being in an episode of Twilight Zone.” He found it difficult to comprehend his situation after working in the criminal justice system for 40 years.
The trial, which began deliberations on February 26, saw jurors struggle to reach a consensus. Despite extended deliberations, they remained at an impasse, leading to the mistrial. A hearing to set a new trial date is scheduled for Thursday (March 20).
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer expressed disappointment with the outcome and plans to review the case further before deciding on the next steps. Defense attorney Cameron Talley commented that a hung jury is part of the legal process and acknowledged the jury’s hard work during the trial.
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