'Personally Threatened' Juror Wants Out of Astor Deliberations; Judge Says No
A New York jury deliberating in the Brooke Astor case sent a note to the judge yesterday, saying that one juror wanted to be dismissed because she felt “personally threatened.”
But New York State Supreme Court Justice A. Kirke Bartley Jr., who read the note in open court today, said no, reports Bloomberg.
Today he also said no to a request for a mistrial by attorney John Cuti, who is defending Astor’s 85-year-old son, Anthony Marshall, in the criminal fraud case. Bartley should have told the jury yesterday that they could lawfully not reach a verdict, Cuti contends.
The other defendant is attorney Francis Morrissey. The two men are accused of siphoning some $60 million from Astor’s estate by taking advantage of her failing mental abilities. She died in 2007 at age 105, leaving an estate with an estimated value of about $192 million at that time.
Additional coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “‘Hang in There,’ Judge Tells Jurors in Trial Over Brooke Astor Estate Planning”
New York Post: “Judge: Trial must go on despite ‘threatened’ juror”
City Room (New York Times): “Defense Wants Mistrial in Astor Case; Judge Refuses”
