Message to Skinny Joey: Next Time You Greet a Juror, SMILE!
UPDATED Jurors for Joseph “Skinny Joey” Merlino's federal racketeering trial in Manhattan have yet to reach a verdict. Merlino will either walk out of court a free man or go straight to a cell. Last Thursday, they communicated to Federal Judge Richard Sullivan that they were deadlocked. Sullivan wasn't ready to spike the case by declaring a mistrial. Rather, he told them to continue and mentioned he might deliver an “Allen charge," an instruction to prevent a hung jury by encouraging jurors in the minority to reconsider. The previous day, jurors deliberated for almost six hours and requested to listen again to eight tapes. They also asked for the definition of conspiracy. Several requirements must be met to meet the definition of a criminal conspiracy. It's not enough to prove that two or more people together planned to commit a crime. Read more about criminal conspiracy. One source believes Merlino has a good shot at beating the case. Former...