A&B Keri B.

Jury deliberations often take a lot of time and frequently factions develop in the jury room. Even federal ones, from time to time. Many juries that initially claim they are deadlocked ultimately reach verdicts. Others don't. But everyone should be aware of what this always was: a messy case that never has had any business being tried in federal court with creative charges. A federal case under the obstruction of justice statute always was going to be far more complicated than simply proving a murder, thanks to the pathetic (lack of) investigation by the state authorities. Having to disprove a suicide, provide an actual, specific motive of silencing a witness to a crime (which is unnecessary in a state court murder trial but required here because this is an obstruction of justice offense due to federal law's limited jurisdiction), and establishing a "reasonable likelihood" that there could have been a federal investigation--all beyond a reasonable doubt--is much trickier than a standard state court murder investigation and prosecution seeking to prove "A killed B." The federal case had to be creative and difficult because of the state. This was always messy but not yet a hung jury. Hopefully Sandra Birchmore receives the justice she deserves, whether in this case, at a retrial or even after what should have happened years ago: a competent and credible state investigation.