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Former Columbus Police officer Andrew Mitchell will be retried in October

Former Columbus vice officer Andrew Mitchell faces charges of murder and voluntary manslaughter stemming from the August 2018 shooting death of Donna Castleberry, 23.
Former Columbus vice officer Andrew Mitchell faces charges of murder and voluntary manslaughter stemming from the August 2018 shooting death of Donna Castleberry, 23.

Former Columbus Police vice officer, Andrew Mitchell will be retried on charges of murder and voluntary manslaughter in October.

The veteran officer was accused of fatally shooting Donna Castleberry in 2018 during an undercover prostitution sting He is charged with charged with murder and voluntary manslaughter.

Atrial in April ended with a hung jury. A new trial starts October 20 with jury selection.

Mitchell also faces a trial July 5 on federal charges that include depriving people of their Constitutional rights by using his badge to kidnap them and forcing them to commit sexual acts. Other charges allege he then tried to cover it up by lying to investigators and tampering with witnesses.

In the first trial, Prosecutors argued Mitchell used an unreasonable amount of force when Castleberry tried to escape him. Prosecutors said Castleberry thought Mitchell was trying to kidnap and rape her.

The defense argued Mitchell was acting in the line of duty while trying to make a prostitution arrest and acted to protect himself.

Debbie Holmes has worked at WOSU News since 2009. She has hosted All Things Considered, since May 2021. Prior to that she was the host of Morning Edition and a reporter.