A jury was unable to agree whether or not a boy was guilty of the manslaughter of a man stabbed to death.
Connor Dockerty, 23, was knifed four times by a then 14-year-old killer - Boy A - in a Huyton street in April this year.
Boy A, now aged 15, was found guilty of murder by a majority of 10-1 yesterday, after a six-week trial at Liverpool Crown Court.
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Prosecutors alleged the victim was killed in a "revenge" attack instigated by a second teen, Boy B, after Mr Dockerty argued with his girlfriend and either shoved her or threatened to.
The jury found Boy B, then 15 and now aged 16, not guilty of murder yesterday afternoon.
But today, after nearly 15 and a half hours of deliberation, jurors were unable to reach a verdict on a charge of manslaughter against him.
Boy B now faces a seven-day wait to see whether the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) will decide to have a retrial on this charge.
Boy A was accused of being armed with two knives when he confronted Mr Dockerty in Kingsway, at around 8pm, on Monday, April 19.
The victim was stabbed in the heart by Boy A and died a short time later in hospital.
Boy A admitted having an article with a blade - the knife he accepted using to stab Mr Dockerty, which he claimed was in self-defence.
However, the jury was also unable to reach a verdict on whether he was in possession of a second blade, as alleged by the prosecution.
That charge related to a knife found on a grass verge, which prosecutors said he dropped.
Boy A claimed Mr Dockerty was carrying that knife and came at him with it.
Judge Neil Flewitt, QC, today asked the jury foreman whether he believed, if given more time, the jury could reach a verdict on either charge.
He said the jurors - down to 11 after a juror was discharged earlier in the trial - could retire to consider this question if they wished.
The jury foreman replied: "I will answer it now. In both cases no."
Judge Flewitt discharged the remaining jurors and thanked them for their service.
He said: "You must not feel in any way you have failed, because you have failed to reach a verdict on any of the counts.
"That is the essence of the system - sometimes juries don't agree."
Once the jury had left the courtroom, Judge Flewitt addressed Tania Griffiths, QC, prosecuting.
He said: "Have you had an opportunity to consider this possible development, or is it something you would like time to consider?"
Ms Griffiths said: "We've had some discussions, but these are not concluded."
Judge Flewitt said he would not press for an immediate decision and gave the CPS seven days.
Ms Griffiths asked whether the judge wished to make any observations, but Judge Flewitt said: "It's entirely a matter for the prosecution."
He said: "I think it's better that you consider the dynamics of both cases - there are different considerations perhaps in relation to count two [manslaughter] and count four [possession of a bladed article]."
Ms Griffiths said: "Absolutely we understand that your honour, very different considerations."
Judge Flewitt said: "I think in the first instance I would rather you made that decision, uninfluenced by anything I say."
Yesterday the jury unanimously found a 44-year-old man, John Batey, of no fixed address but from Huyton, guilty of assisting an offender, namely Boy A.
Judge Flewitt adjourned the case for a mention hearing, which he listed next Friday morning.
He told the prosecution: "If you decide not to proceed with either count, then I will be fixing a sentence date for Boy A and John Batey.
"If you decide to proceed, I will be fixing a retrial."
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