Blankenship jury says it can’t reach verdict, told to keep deliberating

CHARLESTON, W.Va.-A federal judge ordered the jury in the criminal trial of former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship to continue deliberating after receiving a note saying jurors couldn’t reach a verdict, raising the possibility of a hung jury in the closely watched trial.

(Credit: AP) After a 27-day trial, jurors began deliberating Tuesday on charges that Blankenship conspired to flout… The mine exploded in 2010, killing 29 men.

Prosecutors have sought to convince jurors during the seven-week trial that Blankenship was the mastermind of a conspiracy to evade safety laws at Upper Big Branch, located in Montcoal, West Virginia, about 45 miles (70 kilometers) south of Charleston. The defense countered that Blankenship was unfairly targeted, cared about mine safety and that the government never proved its case.

Former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship, center, on his way to court November 18.

Berger told the jurors that given the length of the trial, the number of witnesses and the limited amount of time they had so far deliberated, that she wanted them to continue their deliberations.

William Taylor, a lawyer for Blankenship, had asked Berger to instruct jurors that they don’t have to reach a verdict. Excluding a 20 minutes break in the morning and just over an hour for lunch, Wednesday brought the first full day of the 12-member jury mulling over the evidence and testimony.