Famous trials: How long jurors deliberatedBy HLNtv.com Staff
updated 12:11 PM EDT, Fri November 04, 2011
The minute a case is given to a jury, speculation begins. One hot topic is always how long it will take the jury to reach a verdict. And the speculation really heats up in that window between word that a verdict's been reached and when it's read in court.
In the Conrad Murray case, the media have been notified there will be a two hour window between the time the jury reaches a verdict and the announcement of that verdict.
Some people would say a short deliberation time means a guilty verdict and a longer deliberation means the jury, or at least one juror, thinks the defendant is not guilty. But take a look at how long it took jurors to decide these cases:
- Casey Anthony: was acquitted of first-degree murder in the death of her two-year-old daughter, Caylee. The jury deliberated ten hours and 40 minutes
- O.J. Simpson: In 1995, was acquitted of two counts of murder in the deaths of his wife, Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman. Jurors deliberated for less than four hours.
- Phil Spector: Jurors from the second Phil Spector trial deliberated for 30 hours and convicted him of second-degree murder in the death of Lana Clarkson.
- Robert Blake: After 35 hours of deliberations, stretched out over nine days, jurors acquitted of first-degree murder in his wife's death.
- Scott Peterson: was convicted of first-degree and second-degree murder for killing his wife and their unborn child. The jury deliberated for seven days.
- Menendez brothers: After four days of deliberations, were convicted of two counts of first-degree murder for killing their parents.
- Steven Hayes: was convicted of capital murder in the deaths of three members of the Petit family. The jury deliberated four hours.
http://www.hlntv.com/slideshow/2011/10/ ... iberations