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http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Drew-Peterson-Jurors-Deliberate-Second-Day-168770406.html
"What Does Unanimous Mean:" Jury
Judge tells them "unanimous" means agreed to by all
Thursday, Sep 6, 2012
As deliberations reached the 12-hour mark in the Drew Peterson murder trial, jurors came back Thursday with another question, their fifth.
"What does unanimous mean?"
Judge Edward Burmila told jurors "unanimous" means agreed to by all. The state wanted the judge to refer them to the jury instructions.
What does the question mean? Attorney Joe Lopez was heard saying he's seen this type of question three times before and each time it means a "not guilty" verdict. Defense attorney Ralph Meczyk said he thinks it means a hung jury.
If jurors come back split, Judge Burmilla is expected to instruct them to go back and work it out.
Jurors returned Thursday for their second day of deliberating after hearing five weeks of testimony and reaching no verdict the day before.
Peterson, 58, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the death of his third wife, Kathleen Savio, found dead in a bathtub in 2004.
Attorney Joel Brodsky told reporters earlier in the day Peterson is in good spirits and prepared for the verdict.
"He knows he's innocent," Brodsky said Thursday morning, "hopes he's not guilty because he knows he's not guilty."
Jurors asked a string of questions Wednesday, requesting photos, transcripts, phone records and a letter written by Savio. Judge Edward Burmila allowed jurors access to phone records from the weekend Savio died, as well as autopsy photos but decided against giving them the transcripts of two state witnesses.
The jurors also requested dinner ordered in as they deliberated a little longer before heading home for the night. They returned to court at 9 a.m. Thursday.
"Another day of waiting," Brodsky said. "He's been in jail three-and-a-half years, so it's not like he hasn't thought about this day, if it is today."
The lawyer told reporters a quick verdict is best and noted three to four days could mean a hung jury, "but you can't really read anything into it."
"What Does Unanimous Mean:" Jury
Judge tells them "unanimous" means agreed to by all
Thursday, Sep 6, 2012
As deliberations reached the 12-hour mark in the Drew Peterson murder trial, jurors came back Thursday with another question, their fifth.
"What does unanimous mean?"
Judge Edward Burmila told jurors "unanimous" means agreed to by all. The state wanted the judge to refer them to the jury instructions.
What does the question mean? Attorney Joe Lopez was heard saying he's seen this type of question three times before and each time it means a "not guilty" verdict. Defense attorney Ralph Meczyk said he thinks it means a hung jury.
If jurors come back split, Judge Burmilla is expected to instruct them to go back and work it out.
Jurors returned Thursday for their second day of deliberating after hearing five weeks of testimony and reaching no verdict the day before.
Peterson, 58, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the death of his third wife, Kathleen Savio, found dead in a bathtub in 2004.
Attorney Joel Brodsky told reporters earlier in the day Peterson is in good spirits and prepared for the verdict.
"He knows he's innocent," Brodsky said Thursday morning, "hopes he's not guilty because he knows he's not guilty."
Jurors asked a string of questions Wednesday, requesting photos, transcripts, phone records and a letter written by Savio. Judge Edward Burmila allowed jurors access to phone records from the weekend Savio died, as well as autopsy photos but decided against giving them the transcripts of two state witnesses.
The jurors also requested dinner ordered in as they deliberated a little longer before heading home for the night. They returned to court at 9 a.m. Thursday.
"Another day of waiting," Brodsky said. "He's been in jail three-and-a-half years, so it's not like he hasn't thought about this day, if it is today."
The lawyer told reporters a quick verdict is best and noted three to four days could mean a hung jury, "but you can't really read anything into it."
