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Jackson County prosecutors drop case against murder suspect

Judge under scrutiny after undocumented immigrant escapes courtroom
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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The family of Holly Barnett may not ever get justice in the woman’s killing.

Barnett was killed on May 16, 2017 in Independence.

Jackson County prosecutors charged Courtney Hackney with second-degree murder and armed criminal action in the case.

After a jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict in a trial against Hackney in December 2018, the judge declared a mistrial.

Although prosecutors reset the trial for February 2019, a series of scheduling conflicts involving attorneys and witnesses eventually led prosecutors to evaluate whether the delays had violated the defendant’s double jeopardy rights.

After that review, prosecutors determined that double jeopardy had been reached, preventing them from refiling the case and trying Hackney.

“It is far from satisfying when a procedural rule prevents a family from obtaining a final jury verdict,” a statement from Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker’s office said. “But this office’s conclusion is that double jeopardy prevents the case from being retried. The office has great sympathy for the victim’s family and have been in communication with them throughout this process. Our sympathy goes out to them.”