The jury in the trial of John Edwards
has found the former senator not guilty on one count and is deadlocked
on the remaining five, leading the judge to declare a mistrial on them,
the Associated Press reported.
The verdict followed nine days of deliberations and hours of confusion.
Just after 2 p.m., the jury sent a note that, according to U.S.
District Judge Catherine C. Eagles, said: “We have finished our
deliberations and arrived at our decision on counts one through six.”
Eagles assumed that meant that the jury had reached a verdict and seemed
surprised later in the courtroom when the foreman said that they had
not.
Word that a verdict had been reached sent reporters and trial
participants racing into the courtroom, eager to hear the conclusion.
The anticipation quickly turned to confusion, though, as it became clear
that there was not, in fact, a verdict to be read.
