Jurors in Las Cruces deliberated more than four hours Thursday but was unable to reach a verdict in the extreme animal cruelty case against 38-year-old horse trainer Greg Collier, who was accused of beating a thoroughbred yearling to death in Chapparal on Feb. 13, 2006, the Las Cruces Sun-News reported.

State District Judge Doug Driggers declared a mistrial and gave the state 30 days to file for a retrial, the Sun-News said.

Assistant District Attorney Richard Wellborn said the state won't dismiss the case, the paper reported.

Defense attorney Lawrence Pickett told the Sun-News that the jury was split 9-3 for acquittal.

"I'm always pleased when my client avoids a guilty verdict by a jury," Pickett said after the mistrial was declared. "It was a tough case. A lot for the jury to understand about how a horse reacts and sees things."

Prosecutors have said the 10-month-old horse, which was not owned by Collier, was beaten for about three hours and died of extensive internal injuries, the Sun-News reported.

12:25pm 3/26/08 -- Trainer Accused of Beating Horse to Death: Trial of man charged in 2006 incident could wrap up today in Las Cruces.

Closing arguments could be heard today in a Las Cruces courtroom in the trial of 38-year-old Greg Collier, a horse trainer who is accused of beating a thoroughbred yearling to death in Chaparral on Feb. 13, 2006, the Las Cruces Sun-News is reporting.

Collier is charged with one count of extreme animal cruelty, a fourth-degree felony that could carry and 18-month prison sentence, for allegedly using excessive and violent means in training the thoroughbred, the Sun-News said.

Prosecutors have said the horse, which did not belong to Collier, was beaten for about three hours and died of extensive internal injuries on the following day, the paper reported. 

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