Mistrial declared in trial of LA firefighter accused of beating woman for feeding stray cats

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A mistrial was declared in the the trial of a Los Angeles firefighter and his mother who allegedly beat a woman who fed stray cats in their neighborhood.

Ian Eulian and his 70-year-old mother Lonieta Fontaine were charged in the alleged beating of Rebecca Stafford in September 2013. Surveillance video shows Eulian punching Stafford, but prosecutors claimed Eulian was protecting his elderly mother who was kicked by Stafford during the confrontation.

The jury was split 7-5 against Eulian on battery causing serious bodily injury. For count 2, assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury, the jury was split 6-6.

"I didn't expect that. I mean the video was pretty clear I thought, and I don't understand where there was any question," Stafford said.

John Cross, who served on the jury made up of eight men and four women, called the video "self-explanatory." He said some of the jurors believed the defense attorney's argument.

"Whether she did or did not (kick Fontaine), a woman was still punched and knocked out, which from what I understand is illegal," Cross said.

Stafford denies kicking Fontaine and claims that Eulian was the one who pushed his mother to the ground so he could punch her during the heated argument.

Eulian and Fontaine declined to comment.

Jurors did not vote in the case against the mother, who was charged with accessory to a felony.

The prosecutor has 30 days to decide whether to retry the case.

Eulian could have faced up to seven years in prison. He remains on paid administrative leave from the L.A. Fire Department. An LAFD board of rights hearing is expected to be held to determine Eulian's status with the department.