By Daily Press staff
DOWNTOWN LA — The jury charged with deciding the fate of a Santa Monica man charged with allegedly killing a cab driver nearly three years ago told a judge Monday they couldn’t reach a verdict after two days of deliberating, throwing the week-long murder trial into jeopardy.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Robert J. Perry now has the responsibility of either declaring the case against Antonio Barba a mistrial or ordering the panel to resume deliberations. Perry was meeting with the jury as of presstime Monday.
Closing arguments in the case regarding the fatal stabbing of a 59-year-old cab driver in the Oakwood section of Venice were heard last Thursday, with the jury beginning deliberations on Friday.
Barba, 24, is charged with one count of murder and one count of armed robbery in connection with the July 8, 2001 slaying of cab driver Keum Kim.
According to police, Barba, after being picked up, is alleged to have repeatedly stabbed Kim with a butcher knife and robbed him as the driver drove him to the 800 block of Brooks Avenue, just off Lincoln Boulevard.
Barba, who hails from the 1800 block of 16th Street in the Pico section of Santa Monica, has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The prosecution is not seeking the death penalty.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on February 3, 2004. Read the original PDF.