Mistrial in case of man accused of killing wife

WILMINGTON (AP) — A judge has declared a mistrial in the case of a Wilmington man accused of shooting his wife and then sitting by her body for most of a day drinking.

The jury in the first-degree murder case of 66-year-old Ray Belton told Judge Douglas Parsons on Thursday they were hopelessly deadlocked. The jury had started its deliberations last week.

Belton had admitted shooting his wife, but said it was an accident. Prosecutors argued that he acted with malice and premeditation.

They say he shot Diane Clemmons in the head last September and then continued drinking brandy for the next 18 to 20 hours as his wife lay dead.