Judge orders mistrial in Miami terrorism case
MIAMI (AP) — A federal judge has declared another mistrial against six men accused of plotting to spark an anti-government war by toppling Chicago’s Sears Tower and bombing FBI offices.
U.S. District Judge Joan Lenard ordered a mistrial when jurors reported they were deadlocked after 13 days of deliberation in the case of the so-called “Liberty City Seven.” The first trial ended in a mistrial in December because of a hung jury for the same six defendants and the acquittal of a seventh.
Lenard set an April 23 hearing on whether a third trial would occur. U.S. Attorney R. Alexander Acosta said in a statement a decision on whether to try the men a third time would be announced at that hearing.
The six could have faced up to 70 years in prison if convicted of four conspiracy charges.
Defense lawyers indicated in court they would seek to have the men released on bail at next week’s hearing.
Jurors in this trial first reported a stalemate last Friday and sent out a second note reporting an impasse on Tuesday. Each time, Lenard ordered the seven-man, five-woman jury, whose names are secret, to keep trying.
“They’ve deliberated. They’ve discussed this case inside and out,” said Rod Vereen, who represents defendant Stanley Phanor. “At this point, enough is enough.”
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