A jury was unable to reach a verdict Monday in the trial of a 24-year-old man accused of murdering an accomplice during a botched convenience store robbery in the El Sereno area.
After jurors declared themselves hopelessly deadlocked, a mistrial was declared in the case of Jose Aldo Fafrevela, who was charged in the July 18, 2014, shooting death of Jose Espidon.
The murder charge included a special circumstance allegation that the killing occurred during the commission of a robbery or attempted robbery, along with an allegation that Favela personally and intentionally discharged a rifle.
Prosecutors alleged that Espidon — who was armed with a machete — was struggling with the owner of the Meadow Maid Market in the 5300 block of Alhambra Avenue when Favela fired a round from an assault rifle that struck and killed Espidon.
A district attorney’s official could not immediately say whether the case would be refiled.
— Wire reports