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Bob Joseph/WNBF News [March 5, 2014][/caption]The third murder trial of Calvin Harris ended May 15 when a Schoharie County judge declared a mistrial.

Judge George Bartlett discharged jurors after they made it clear they were unable to reach a unanimous decision.

Harris had twice been convicted of murder in connection with the 2001 disappearance of his estranged wife, Michele Harris. Those convictions were dismissed on appeal.

Speaking shortly after the mistrial was declared, Harris said he was "thankful to be going home with my family." Harris spoke for three-and-a-half minutes but did not answer questions.

In his statement, Harris declared: "I did not have anything to do with Michele's disappearance. One day I hope to be able to prove that to everyone's satisfaction."

Harris implored "Michele's family and the law enforcement community to please consider that you're wrong. You have been pursuing the wrong person. My children and I are begging you to look at someone else and find out what happened to Michele."

Tioga County district attorney Kirk Martin, who prosecuted the case, declined to discuss his reaction to the declaration of a mistrial. Speaking to reporters outside the courthouse, Martin said: "My obligation as a district attorney is to seek justice and I'm going to continue to do that."

The 53-year-old Harris, who lives in the town of Spencer, had been an automobile dealer in Tioga County.

His third trial was moved to Schoharie County after his attorneys successfully argued Harris would not be able to receive a fair trial in his home county because of the intense publicity surrounding the case.

Michele Harris disappeared in September 2001. Prosecutors have been unable to prove she is dead.

A court conference on the future of the case involving Calvin Harris has been scheduled for August 12. His attorneys said they will work to prevent a fourth trial, contending "double jeopardy should bar a retrial."

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