La. Judge Rejects Guilty Verdict in A.M., But Jury Gives 2nd 'C-Murder' Rap in P.M.
After getting a guilty verdict this morning from a jury hearing a second-degree murder case against rapper Corey “C-Murder” Miller, a Louisiana judge told the panel in the Jefferson Parish case to try again.
24th District Court Judge Hans Liljeberg ruled the verdict invalid, saying he believed one member of the jury may have changed his or her vote simply to end the deliberations, and sent the jury back to continue considering the case, reports the Times-Picayune.
But the jury returned a second 10-2 guilty verdict this afternoon, at about 1:40 p.m., and this time the judge ruled it valid, the newspaper reports in a subsequent article.
The unusual two-verdict procedure will undoubtedly create issues on appeal, but may well be upheld as valid, experts tell the Associated Press.
Earlier, the judge ordered a Bible removed from the jury room, after the panel complained in a note that one member was alternately sleeping and quoting scripture, the Times-Picayune recounted in a previous article.
This is the second trial for Miller, 38, whose conviction in the first trial was reversed. He is accused in the 2002 nightclub shooting death of a 16-year-old fan.
Additional coverage:
Associated Press: “C-Murder jury in La. tells judge of more problems”
Associated Press: “C-Murder jury sent back over questionable verdict”
Updated at 6:20 p.m. to add information from Associated Press coverage about experts’ views of double verdict.
