usmc4669
04-02-04, 12:27 PM
Only in America
By SAMUEL MAULL
NEW YORK (AP) - A judge declared a mistrial in the grand-larceny case against two former Tyco executives Friday after nearly six months of testimony and 11 days of deliberations, citing intense outside pressure placed on one of the jurors.
A source, speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, said that Juror No. 4 - a woman who had nearly brought the case to a mistrial last week - had received a threatening or coercive letter within the preceding 24 hours.
Juror No. 4 became the subject of intense media scrutiny last week after some news organizations reported she made an "OK" gesture toward the defense as she passed by the lawyers. The Wall Street Journal and the New York Post used the juror's name, the Post also ran a front-page sketch of her giving the "OK" sign and called her "Ms. Trial" and "the batty blueblood."
Juror Ruth Jordan, center with glasses, leaves New York State Supreme Court after a judge declared a mistrial in the case against Tyco executives L. Dennis Kozlowski and Mark Swartz on Friday, April 2, 2004, in New York. Kozlowski, the former chairman and chief executive officer of Tyco International Ltd., and Swartz, Tyco's former chief financial officer, were accused of improperly using Tyco funds to enrich themselves and others.
By SAMUEL MAULL
NEW YORK (AP) - A judge declared a mistrial in the grand-larceny case against two former Tyco executives Friday after nearly six months of testimony and 11 days of deliberations, citing intense outside pressure placed on one of the jurors.
A source, speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, said that Juror No. 4 - a woman who had nearly brought the case to a mistrial last week - had received a threatening or coercive letter within the preceding 24 hours.
Juror No. 4 became the subject of intense media scrutiny last week after some news organizations reported she made an "OK" gesture toward the defense as she passed by the lawyers. The Wall Street Journal and the New York Post used the juror's name, the Post also ran a front-page sketch of her giving the "OK" sign and called her "Ms. Trial" and "the batty blueblood."
Juror Ruth Jordan, center with glasses, leaves New York State Supreme Court after a judge declared a mistrial in the case against Tyco executives L. Dennis Kozlowski and Mark Swartz on Friday, April 2, 2004, in New York. Kozlowski, the former chairman and chief executive officer of Tyco International Ltd., and Swartz, Tyco's former chief financial officer, were accused of improperly using Tyco funds to enrich themselves and others.