Spector jury says it's at an impasse
The judge will go over the law with jurors on Wednesday and will hear arguments the next day on whether to consider a lesser charge.
The jury in the Phil Spector murder trial said today that it believes it is split into almost equal camps and is unable to decide whether the famed music producer shot an actress to death more than four years ago.
Superior Court Judge Larry Paul Fidler announced the latest twist in the celebrity trial that has been a fixture in a high-security Los Angeles courtroom since April.
Though the jury is hung, officials are not giving up the possibility that a verdict might still be reached. The trial will resume Wednesday as the judge tries to reinstruct jurors on the law.
The jury, whose deliberations were in the seventh day, sent a note this morning to the court announcing that it appeared to be unable to resolve its deep fissure over whether Spector killed actress Lana Clarkson on Feb. 3, 2003.
Wearing a gray striped suit and a red tie, Spector sat at the defense table where he has been a fixture for more than five months. He appeared stunned, his hands shaking like they have so many times before in the trial.
The defense immediately asked for a mistrial, but Fidler rejected that move. He then sent the jury home to return on Wednesday.
"It is possible I may give you further instructions tomorrow," Fidler told the nine men and three women on the jury. "Just set the case aside for the rest of the day," he said and then dismissed them.
Fidler also set Thursday for legal arguments on whether to consider a lesser charge. The defense and prosecution both rejected any lesser charge and Fidler concurred.
Before lunch, the jury sent a note to the court. Some communication from the jurors had been expected this morning, because just before they left on Monday they asked for special forms used to ask questions about the law or evidence.
But few expected to hear that the jury had reached a deadlock until Fidler made the jarring announcement this afternoon.
Jurors took four ballots and were split 7-5, the foreman, Juror 10, a civil engineer, told Fidler.
"I believe it comes down to individual jurors," the foreman said. "At this time we don't believe anything will change the positions of the jurors."
Fidler then polled the jury.
Three jurors indicated that something more might be done to force a verdict. They cited questions about reasonable doubt.
But the remaining nine were adamant that no verdict was possible. The jury has deliberated more than 28 hours over seven days, including this morning.
