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Judge Declares Mistrial in Gretna Murder Case

A state judge declared a mistrial after defense attorneys provided evidence they say supports their client's alibi.

The Times-Picayune reports 28-year-old Derrick Francois has claimed he was in Mississippi when Gretna police say he barged into a home in April 2011 and shot Chandrick Harris in the head.

Francois's defense attorneys say that only this week they've gotten paycheck stubs that back their client's claim that he was working in Pascagoula when Harris was killed.

In declaring the mistrial on Wednesday, Judge Conn Regan said he had to protect Francois' constitutional right to a fair trial.

Regan ordered prosecutors and defense attorneys to be back in his court next week to select a new trial date.

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