Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
PROVO, Utah (AP) -- A mistrial was declared Friday in the case of a father accused of trying to drive his three children off a cliff, a court official said.
Jurors could not reach a unanimous verdict a "few hours after midnight," said Paul Vance, court executive for 4th District Court.
Hours earlier Thursday, Christopher Young sat in the witness chair and admitted he threatened to drive his sport utility vehicle over a cliff with his kids inside but added: "God knows I wouldn't do that."
"I couldn't even force myself to do that. I love my kids too much," Young, 36, told jurors. "I feel bad that I even thought about it."
Young was charged with attempted aggravated murder and child abuse/neglect.
He was driving north on Interstate 15 near Lehi on April 18 when his car went off the road and down an embankment. Police said he got the vehicle moving again, drove across an alfalfa field and stopped his car about 30 feet from a cliff.
During the two-day trial, Young's 7-year-old son said his father told them "he was going to kill us. ... He was very mad."
On cross examination, Young said he made the threat to his wife, Adella, hoping she would change her mind about a divorce. He said he also was stressed by working six nights a week at Wal-Mart.
Defense attorney Richard Gale said Young drove to the ledge after he dropped his cell phone and accidentally drove off the freeway.
"People say things all the time they don't intend to follow through with. We don't want to punish somebody for just saying something," Gale told the jury.
Utah County prosecutor Donna Kelly said Young didn't call police after going off the road and repeatedly tried to start his Trail Blazer near the lip of the cliff.
Adella Young picked up their children -- 2, 4 and 6 at the time -- after getting a phone call from her husband, who was arrested.
"There are so many steps that the defendant took toward committing this crime. ... It's just indisputable," Kelly said in her closing argument.
Gale, a public defender, and Kelly could not be reached for comment Friday. Their offices were closed for Veterans Day.
Prosecutors can refile the charges and seek another trial, Vance said.
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
