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COURTLAND

Judge Wayne Farmer declared a mistrial in the case against Wesley Paul Hadsell on Wednesday afternoon. The Norfolk man had been charged with the first-degree murder of his adopted stepdaughter, Angelica “A.J.” Hadsell, which took place sometime from March 2 to April 9, 2015. A dive team from the Norfolk Police Department searched in and around a retention pond at the intersection of Joyners Bridge Road and Route 258 (Walter’s Highway) on April 2-3.

The trial began with jury selection on Monday, and the potential jurors were told to expect it to last two to three weeks.

Southampton County Clerk of Court Richard Francis told The Tidewater News that Judge Farmer announced that Wednesday morning that an issue had arisen and the jury was sent out. Essentially, there was a stipulation about what could come into evidence, he said. Southampton Commonwealth Attorney Eric Cooke made the motion for the mistrial earlier in the afternoon, and the defense did not object.

“So in the interest of fairness,” said Francis, “the judge declared a mistrial.”

A meeting was to take place on Friday morning, he added, to set a date for a new trial.

The CA’s office, when contacted, had no comment to make on the issue.