By Ed Fletcher
efletcher@sacbee.com
After more than four years behind bars while facing three jury trials for the 2005 stabbing death of his friend, Caleb John Madsen (left photo) became a free man Monday afternoon.
Standing outside the Auburn Jail, from which Madsen was soon to be released, the victim's mother and Madsen's attorney felt shorted.
"The justice system failed in this case," said Linda Worth, mother of slain teen Christopher Worth.
Authorities alleged that Madsen stabbed Christopher after the two were hanging out and drinking the night of July 9, 2005. Christopher's body and truck was found a day later in a field off Cavitt Stallman Road.
In the most recent trial, Madsen was acquitted of the first-degree charge, while the jury unable to break a 6-6 deadlock on whether to convict Madsen on a charge of second-degree murder.
In the first trial in 2008, jurors voted 7-5 to convict on the first-degree charge. In 2009, jurors were split 10-2 to convict, leading to another mistrial being declared and setting up the most recent trial.
The Placer County District Attorney's office could have refiled against Madsen on the second-degree murder charge, but said Monday they're declining to purse it further.
Mary Beth Acton, Madsen's attorney, said Monday's release of her client was a long time coming. She said she was sympathetic to the Worth family but the police "got the wrong guy."
"I'm just so ecstatic to see him get out of there," Acton said.
Previous coverage:
Placer DA to seek third trial for Granite Bay man in friend's killing - March 27, 2009
Another jury deadlocks in Placer County murder case - March 13, 2009
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