SANTA ANA >> The case of a Southern California judge charged with murder for fatally shooting his wife has ended in a mistrial, the prosecutor’s office said.

Jurors in a Santa Ana courtroom could not reach a unanimous verdict in the case against now-74-year-old Orange County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Ferguson, said Kimberly Edds, a spokesperson for the county District Attorney’s office.

She said 11 of the 12 jurors had wanted to declare Ferguson guilty of second-degree murder.

Prosecutors said at trial earlier that Ferguson shot his wife Sheryl with a handgun while the couple was watching television at their home in Anaheim Hills after they had been arguing. Testifying at trial, Ferguson did not deny shooting her, but said it was an accident.

The judge’s attorney, Cameron Talley, said Monday he is sure Ferguson is relieved because he could have been taken into custody. But Talley said Ferguson is still saddened by the loss of his wife and his life is still destroyed.

“I do think the evidence shows there was never any intent to intentionally kill anybody,” Talley told reporters.

The case had roiled the legal community in Orange County, home to 3 million people, between Los Angeles and San Diego.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Eleanor J. Hunter presided over Ferguson’s case to avoid a conflict of interest. She scheduled a hearing Thursday in her Los Angeles courtroom on how to proceed.

Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer noted that all but one juror believed Ferguson was guilty of second-degree murder. He said his office would review the case and speak with Sheryl Ferguson’s family members and is prepared to retry the case.

“Eleven to one is a success in the world in which we operate,” Spitzer told reporters. “She died in cold blood, and we’re going to get justice to the best of our ability.”

Larry Rosen, Sheryl Ferguson’s brother, told reporters he was pleased with the outcome of the trial and doesn’t believe the killing was murder. He said he and his brothers feel the shooting was an accident, and he would like for prosecutors to reach a deal with Ferguson.