All articles tagged with #jury deadlock
A jury failed to reach a verdict in the Palisades Fire case, resulting in a mistrial and an October retrial for suspect Jonathan Rinderknecht. Jurors said there wasn’t enough evidence to convict beyond a reasonable doubt that he acted alone, and the defense argued investigators’ conclusions and other possible causes should be considered.
A federal judge declared a mistrial in the Palisades fire arson case after jurors deadlocked 10-2 for acquittal on all three felony counts against former Uber driver Jonathan Rinderknecht, who prosecutors say started the Lachman fire that ignited the Palisades blaze. After about 13 hours of deliberations, the judge said there was manifest necessity to end the trial; prosecutors plan to retry the case, while the defense argued the evidence failed to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The Palisades fire killed 12 people, destroyed about 6,500 structures from Pacific Palisades to Malibu, and caused billions in losses, leaving key questions of responsibility unresolved.
After roughly 10 days of trial, the federal jury in the Lachman/Palisades Fire case against ex-Uber driver Jonathan Rinderknecht says they are deadlocked on all counts, prompting Judge Anne Hwang to order continued deliberations as the trial continues. Rinderknecht faces up to 45 years in prison on charges including Destruction of Property by Fire, Arson Affecting Property Used in Interstate Commerce, and Timber Set Afire; if a mistrial is declared, prosecutors could retry with a new jury. The Palisades Fire devastated the LA area, destroying more than 5,400 homes and killing more than a dozen people.
Harvey Weinstein's sex crimes retrial ended in disarray as the jury foreperson refused to deliberate on a remaining rape charge, leading to a mistrial. The case follows his 2020 conviction, which was overturned, and sets the stage for a third trial. Weinstein faces new sentencing on his sexual assault conviction, while his legal team plans an appeal. The case highlights ongoing issues in the #MeToo movement and Hollywood's reckoning with sexual misconduct.
The jury in Daniel Penny's trial for the manslaughter of Jordan Neely is deadlocked on the second-degree manslaughter charge, unable to reach a unanimous decision after over 18 hours of deliberation. Penny, a former Marine, is accused of killing Neely with a chokehold on a New York City subway. The jury has requested further instructions from Judge Maxwell Wiley, who is considering an Allen charge to encourage continued deliberation. Penny has pleaded not guilty to both manslaughter and negligent homicide charges.
Former Long Beach school officer Eddie F. Gonzalez's trial ends in a jury deadlock over whether he is guilty of murder or manslaughter for fatally shooting 18-year-old Manuela "Mona" Rodriguez in the back of the head as she fled a minor fight. Prosecutors argued that Gonzalez overreacted, while his defense claimed the shooting was a tragedy but not a crime. The jury split on the verdict, with seven jurors ready to convict him of murder and five of voluntary manslaughter. The possibility of a retrial remains open, and the district attorney's office is reviewing its options.
Federal prosecutors have asked a judge to dismiss the remaining corruption charges against Andrew Gillum, the Democratic nominee for Florida governor in 2018, after a jury deadlocked on all but one count following a trial earlier this month. Jurors acquitted Gillum of lying to the FBI but could not reach a verdict on more than a dozen fraud and conspiracy charges contending Gillum and his co-defendant diverted tens of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions for his personal use.