Prosecutors relied heavily on an Erie woman’s testimony as they sought a conviction against one of her co-defendants on second-degree murder and other charges in a 2022 robbery and shooting that led to the death of a city man.
But one comment made by Julia Gaerttner on the witness stand Monday led Erie County Judge David Ridge to declare a mistrial in the case against Derrick S. Wright, 36.
As Gaerttner, 33, was being questioned by prosecutors about the events leading up to and after the fateful armed encounter at a McClelland Avenue rental house on Jan. 26-27, 2022, she made a statement about Wright being on parole. Ridge determined the statement could prejudice the jury that had been hearing testimony in the case since the trial opened on Thursday morning.
The judge ruled a mistrial after prosecutors finished presenting their evidence and testimony early Monday afternoon.
Erie County First Assistant District Attorney Jessica Rieger, who prosecuted the case with Assistant District Attorney Hillary Hoffman, said her office intends to try the case against Wright again.