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Edwards jury sent to try again John Edwards case mistrial declared
(40 minutes later)
The jury in ex-presidential candidate John Edwards' trial has been sent to resume deliberations after reaching a verdict on only one of six charges. The judge in the campaign finance trial of former US presidential candidate John Edwards has declared a mistrial amid jury deadlock on most charges.
The panel in Greensboro, North Carolina appears deadlocked on most counts, after about nine days of deliberations. The panel in Greensboro, North Carolina found him not guilty on one of six charges of misuse of campaign funds, but could not agree on the other five.
Mr Edwards, 58, denies using donor funds to hide his mistress' pregnancy during his 2008 run for the presidency. The jury had been deliberating for about nine days.
The former senator faces up to 30 years in prison and $1.5m (£945,000) in fines if convicted of all charges. Mr Edwards, 58, denied using donor funds to hide his mistress' pregnancy during his 2008 run for the presidency.
To prove him guilty, prosecutors must show he knew about the money used in the cover-up, and also that he knew he was violating the law. The former North Carolina senator could have faced up to 30 years in jail and $1.5m (£945,000) in fines if convicted of all charges.
Courtroom confusion To prove him guilty, prosecutors needed to show he knew about the money used in the cover-up, and also that he knew he was violating the law.
The jury has reached a verdict on count three of the indictment against Mr Edwards. Courtroom chaos
The charge is said to relate to illegal campaign funds from a wealthy donor, heiress Rachel "Bunny" Mellon. It is not known what verdict the jury reached on that count. The 12-member jury reached its not guilty verdict on count three, which related to illegal campaign funds from a wealthy donor, heiress Rachel "Bunny" Mellon.
The judge called a five minute recess once it was clear the jury was still undecided on several counts. Mrs Mellon wrote cheques totalling $725,000 to her interior decorator, who then sent the cheques to an Edwards aide's wife to co-sign using her maiden name.
Mr Edwards had denied knowledge of the money, which paid for private jets, hotels and medical care for mistress Rielle Hunter, a videographer.
The Edwards defence team had indicated they would like to hear the verdict on the third count and declare a mistrial on all other counts.
The judge called a five-minute recess earlier on Thursday once it was clear the jury was still undecided on most counts.
"I was obviously under the impression you had reached a verdict on all six counts," Judge Catherine Eagles said."I was obviously under the impression you had reached a verdict on all six counts," Judge Catherine Eagles said.
She apologised to the jury for calling them into court, before sending them back to continue weighing the charges.She apologised to the jury for calling them into court, before sending them back to continue weighing the charges.
Journalists scrambled to and from the courthouse amid all the confusion. Journalists scrambled to and from the courtroom amid all the confusion.
Mr Edwards, who appeared in court for the verdict, seemed at ease and was smiling at members of his family. Mr Edwards, who was in court, seemed at ease and was smiling at members of his family.
His defence team indicated they would like to hear the verdict on the third count and declare a mistrial on all other counts. Two years ago, he admitted fathering a child with Ms Hunter in 2007.
Two years ago, the former senator admitted he had fathered a child with then-mistress Rielle Hunter in 2007. An Edwards aide, Andrew Young, had claimed paternity of the child to help his boss.
An Edwards aide, Andrew Young, claimed paternity of the child to help his boss. But during the trial Mr Young testified as a leading witness against Mr Edwards in a deal to shield himself from prosecution.
At the time, Mr Edwards' wife, Elizabeth, was fighting breast cancer. She died in December 2010, having separated from her husband after he acknowledged paternity of Ms Hunter's child. While the cover-up of the affair was going on, Mr Edwards' wife, Elizabeth, was fighting breast cancer.
Mr Edwards denied knowledge of the money, which paid for private jets, hotels and medical care for Ms Hunter, a videographer. She died in December 2010, having separated from her husband after he acknowledged paternity of Ms Hunter's child.