Trump jury returns to rehear testimony hours after deliberations begin
Just three hours after beginning deliberations in Donald Trump’s hush money trial, the jurors requested to re-hear testimony from two of the prosecution’s key witnesses.
Hours after beginning deliberations on whether to convict Donald Trump in his hush money trial, the jurors have requested to re-hear testimony from two of the prosecution’s key witnesses.
Mr Trump, his lawyers and the prosecution returned to court after the jurors sent a note to Judge Juan Merchan with four questions.
They asked to rehear testimony from National Enquirer publishrt David Pecker regarding a phone conversation with Mr Trump while Mr Pecker was in the investor meeting, his testimony about the decision not to finalise and fund the assignment of model Karen McDougal’s life rights and his testimony regarding a Trump Tower meeting.
The jury also asked to rehear testimony from Mr Trump’s personal lawyer Michael Cohen regarding the Trump Tower meeting.
The 12-strong jury also asked to re-hear Judge Merchan’s instructions, which he had spent an hour giving them.
After weeks of testimony from 20 witnesses, and after receiving final instructions from the judge, jurors had left the courtroom to sit in a designated room where they alone will have the final say on 77-year-old Mr Trump.
“You must set aside any personal opinions you have in favour or against the defendant,” Judge Merchan had told them.
“As a juror, you are asked to make a very important decision about another member of the community.” No time limit is placed on the deliberations, but an acquittal or conviction would require unanimity. If just one juror refuses to join the others, the judge would have to declare a mistrial.
Mr Trump is accused of falsifying business records to reimburse a $130,000 payment to silence adult film star Stormy Daniels, when her account of an alleged sexual encounter could have imperilled his 2016 presidential campaign. Prosecutors say the fraud was motivated by a plot to prevent voters from knowing about his behaviour.
If Mr Trump is found guilty, the political repercussions would far outweigh the seriousness of the charges as, barely five months before the November 5 presidential election, the candidate would also become a convicted criminal.
The judge instructed Mr Trump that he will have to remain in the courthouse while awaiting the verdict. Mr Trump responded by stepping outside the courtroom to launch an angry statement to journalists, calling it a “very disgraceful situation.” “These charges are rigged,” Mr Trump said, claiming that “Mother Teresa could not beat these charges.”
– ‘Hatred for Trump’ –
In closing arguments on Tuesday, Mr Trump’s defence team insisted the evidence for a conviction simply did not exist, while the prosecution countered that it was voluminous and inescapable.
“The defendant’s intent to defraud could not be any clearer,” said prosecutor Joshua Steinglass, urging the jurors to use their “common sense” and return a guilty verdict.
If convicted, Mr Trump faces up to four years in prison on each of 34 counts, but legal experts say that as a first-time offender he is unlikely to get jail time.
A conviction would not bar him from the November ballot and he would almost certainly appeal. In the case of a mistrial, prosecutors could seek a new trial.
Mr Trump has been required to attend every day of the trial.
However, he has used his trips to court and the huge media presence to spread his claim that the trial is a Democratic ploy to keep him off the campaign trail.
Polls show Mr Trump neck and neck against President Joe Biden, and the verdict will inflame passions as the White House race intensifies.
In addition to the New York case, Mr Trump has been indicted in Washington and Georgia on charges of conspiring to overturn the results of the 2020 election.
He also faces charges in Florida of hoarding huge quantities of classified documents after leaving the White House.
The New York case is the only one likely to come to trial by election day.
AFP
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