In September , a judge declared a mistrial in the case of Brandon McInerney , now 17 , after jurors said they were hopelessly deadlocked following a nine-week trial on whether he should be found guilty of manslaughter or murder . NEW : ` ` I understand why '' the plea deal was reached , the victim 's father says . Brandon McInerney , now 17 , agrees to plead guilty for killing a junior high classmate . He will be sentenced in January and faces up to life in prison if he is found guilty of murder or manslaughter. The jury could n't decide earlier this year whether to convict him of murder or manslaughter .
NEW : ` ` I understand why '' the plea deal was reached , the victim 's father says . Brandon McInerney , now 17 , agrees to plead guilty for killing a junior high classmate . He will be sentenced in January and faces up to life in prison if he is found guilty of murder or manslaughter. The jury could n't decide earlier this year whether to convict him of murder or manslaughter .