TWO MEN FACE RE-TRIAL FOR 2004 MURDER April 17, 2008 After more than two weeks of testimony and a period of deliberations that ran nearly as long, a Suffolk Superior Court jury today declared itself hopelessly deadlocked in the trial of QUINCY BUTLER (D.O.B. 3/14/74) and WILLIAM WOOD (D.O.B. 4/17/74), prompting Judge Patrick Brady to declare a mistrial, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley announced. Jurors agreed on only one of the 11 charges, acquitting both defendants of single counts of malicious destruction of property stemming from the burning of a surviving victim’s car. Both defendants are additionally charged with first-degree murder, armed assault with intent to murder, carjacking, home invasion, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, larceny of a motor vehicle, and two counts each of kidnapping and armed robbery. A new trial has been scheduled for June 9. Both defendants remain held without bail pending those proceedings. Beginning on March 18, jurors heard evidence that Butler and Wood hogtied and robbed 49-year-old Betsy Tripp and her male friend, then 47, in the Monsignor Lydon Way apartment they shared on the night of Feb. 12, 2004. When the cash in the residence was not sufficient for the assailants, evidence suggests, one of them took Tripp’s bank card to a cash machine and the other stood guard over the two victims. When they could only retrieve $40, prosecutors said, one of the assailants slashed Tripp’s throat, killing her. When her friend tried to help her, they shot him in the face, causing injuries that would ultimately claim his left eye and leave him partially blind. Attorneys gave closing arguments on April 2. Jurors deliberated until April 9, when one of their panel took ill and an alternate was seated; the new jury began deliberations anew and continued their efforts until this afternoon. “We are truly grateful for the time, effort, and attention these jurors gave to the evidence,” Conley said. “Their efforts to reach a unanimous verdict were admirable.” Assistant District Attorney Patrick M. Haggan, Conley’s Chief Trial Counsel, prosecuted the case with assistance from Assistant District Attorney Carina Canaan of Conley’s Appeals Division. Butler was represented by attorney Larry Tipton and Wood by attorney Michael Bourbeau. Return to the Press Releases page.