‘Junior’ Gotti jury says it’s deadlocked for 2nd time, then settles in for more deliberations

‘Junior’ Gotti jury signals deadlock _ again

NEW YORK — It sounds like John “Junior” Gotti will have to wait a few more days before he learns his fate in his fourth racketeering trial.

The jury in federal court in Manhattan told a judge Tuesday that they were deadlocked for a second time. After a judge ordered them to try again, they came back soon after to ask for the testimony of seven witnesses and instructions for after the Thanksgiving holiday.

Then they ended a ninth day of deliberations. That’s a record for Gotti’s four trials.

Prosecutors say Gotti, son of the late infamous mob boss, ordered or participated in several brutal attacks since the 1980s, including several murders.

Attorneys for Gotti say he quit the Mafia in 1999 and never participated in murders.

Gotti’s three previous trials ended in hung juries.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

NEW YORK (AP) — John “Junior” Gotti moved closer to another victory over federal prosecutors Tuesday when the jury in his fourth racketeering trial said for a second time that it could not reach a unanimous verdict on racketeering and murder-related charges.

Gotti blew a kiss to his family as he entered U.S. District Court in Manhattan to hear U.S. District Judge Kevin P. Castel announce that the jury was deadlocked.

Gotti lawyer Charles Carnesi asked for an immediate mistrial, but Castel chose instead to read the jury a so-called Allen charge meant to prod the jurors toward a verdict.

“This trial has been conducted at considerable expense and human effort to both the government and the defendant,” the judge told them. “If your deliberations do not end in a verdict, in all likelihood it would have to be tried again before another jury.”

Prosecutors say Gotti, son of the late infamous mob boss, ordered or participated in several brutal attacks since the 1980s, including several murders.

Attorneys for Gotti say he quit the Mafia in 1999 and never participated in murders.

Gotti’s three previous trials ended in hung juries.