[mis-trahy-uh
l, -trahyl] 
| 1. | a trial terminated without conclusion on the merits of the case because of some error in the proceedings. |
| 2. | an inconclusive trial, as where the jury cannot agree. |
| mis·tri·al (mĭs'trī'əl, -trīl', mĭs-trī'əl, -trīl') n.
|
mistrial
in law, a trial that has been terminated and declared void before the tribunal can hand down a decision or render a verdict. The termination of a trial prematurely nullifies the preceding proceedings as if they had not taken place. Therefore, should another trial on the same charges, with the same defendants, be ordered, that trial would start from the beginning, with the previous testimony or other findings not necessarily relevant in the new court proceedings.
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