HOUSTON -- A jury deliberated for a second day without reaching a verdict in the trial of a teenage girl accused of stabbing an MS-13 gang member to death, KPRC Local 2 reported Thursday.

Ashley Benton, 17, is charged with murder in connection with the death of Gabriel Granillo, 15, during a gang fight at Ervan Chew Park on June 6, 2006.

Deliberations began at 1:20 p.m. on Wednesday.

Thursday morning, the panel asked to review Benton's recorded police statement.

In the judge's charge to the jury, he told jurors to put themselves in the shoes in the defendant as they considered the evidence. They sent out a note asking for guidance on how to do that. The judge referred them back to the document.

Benton's attorney sees that as a good sign.

"It's a little optimistic that the jurors want to know at what point they have to put themselves in the shoes of the defendant to evaluate the situation going on in front of them. At least they're looking at it from the right perspective. That's all we can ask for at this point," defense attorney Kent Schaeffer said.

Jurors also asked for copies of the testimony given by a defense witness who said Granillo never entered Chew Park during a gang fight. They also asked to see testimony from another witness who did see Granillo inside the park after he was stabbed, with a baseball bat lying next to him.

Defense attorneys contend that Benton acted in self-defense when Granillo came at her with a bat.

Prosecutors portrayed Benton as a streetwise gang wannabe who embraced violence. They said that Granillo was not attacking her, but trying to get away when Benton plunged a 5 1/2-inch blade into his chest.

If convicted of murder, Benton would face probation to life in prison. The jury also has the option to consider a lesser charge.