Philly officer's murder trial: Deliberations to restart Friday after jurors fail to reach consensus

PHILADELPHIA - The jury was sent home for the night in the trial of the two men accused of fatally shooting Philadelphia Police Sergeant Richard Mendez.

What we know:

Judge Campbell instructed the jury to go home and return tomorrow morning to continue deliberations.

Jurors were instructed to start fresh in their talks this morning as an alternate juror joined them following a medical emergency with one of the jurors that halted deliberations on Tuesday.

Jurors returned to the courtroom on Thursday five different times with requests to review certain pieces of evidence discussed during the trial. Just before 4 p.m., they came back in for the sixth time for additional guidance on how to conduct deliberations.

The backstory:

Jobranny Martinez-Fernandez and Hendrick Peña-Fernandez are on trial for the murder of Sgt. Richard Mendez. 

On Oct. 12, 2023, the prosecution stated that Martinez-Fernandez and Peña-Fernandez, along with Alexander Batista-Polanco and Jesús Madera-Durán, were attempting to steal a Jeep at the Philadelphia International Airport's Terminal D parking lot. 

They were confronted by Sgt. Mendez and Officer Raul Ortiz. The men allegedly opened fire, killing Mendez and injuring Ortiz.

Police said Martinez-Fernandez took Mendez's gun before the group drove Madera-Durán, who was also shot, to the hospital where he later died. 

Connection to a car theft ring

Investigators later linked the defendants to a car theft ring that stole high-end cars and resold them in Camden County.

Thirteen people were arrested in connection with this investigation, including Martinez-Fernandez, Peña-Fernandez and Alexander Batista-Polanco, who previously pled guilty to lesser charges.

What we don't know:

It remains unclear what the jury's verdict will be, and if the sentencing will occur Friday if a verdict is reached.