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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

No Decision Yet In Gallagher Trial

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Idaho After seven hours of deliberations Friday, a jury had not returned with a verdict in the Patricia Gallagher case.

The 42-year-old Boundary County woman is accused of murdering her husband last September by shooting him once in the head while he slept. Jurors will reconvene at 9 a.m. today.

Gallagher’s defense attorneys have argued the state never proved she fired the fatal shot. But in closing arguments Friday they also told jurors Gallagher was a battered spouse and if she did kill her husband it was in self-defense.

Throughout the month-long trial witnesses described how Jim Gallagher brutally beat his wife and two teenage sons.

This is Gallagher’s second trial. The first jury deadlocked, voting 11-1 to acquit her.