Your questions answered17:37
Tiffany Wertheimer
US Reporter
Here’s a quick Q&A on the most popular queries about this trial.
When will the jury reach a verdict?
We have no idea. What goes on in the deliberation room is a carefully guarded secret, and the only hint we get of how things might be going is when the jury returns to court to ask questions. Even then, it’s difficult to get a clear idea of… anything! Deliberations could last hours, days or even (but unlikely) weeks.
You can read Gary O’Donoghue’s thoughts on the mysterious deliberation room here.
Do they get the judge’s instructions in the deliberation room?
No. That’s why they asked for some of the instructions to be repeated today, and many jurors were frantically scribbling notes while Justice Merchan re-read them.
Does the verdict have to be unanimous?
Yes. The 12-member jury must all agree on the verdict, whether it is guilty or not guilty. If they cannot reach a unanimous verdict, it’s a hung jury and the judge will likely call a mistrial.
What were the jury’s instructions?
Justice Merchan’s instructions to the jury – all 55 pages of them – were read out yesterday before the panel retired to deliberate. They were complicated but precise, and gave a range of guidelines advising jurors not to base their decisions on biases or the criminal convictions of other witnesses in the case.
You can read the full instructions here.