Juror Dismissed, Deliberations Restart From Beginning In Trial Of Former Nassau County Exec Ed Mangano, Wife
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A juror has been replaced in the trial of former Nassau County executive Ed Mangano and his wife.
Mangano is accused of taking bribes and kickbacks from restaurant owner Harendra Singh in exchange for government favors.
Prosecutors say Linda Mangano was given a "no-show" job at one of Singh's restaurants. She's charged with obstruction of justice and lying to the FBI.
A juror sent a note to the judge Tuesday saying deliberations had become a "toxic environment" of name calling and cursing. The defense moved for a mistrial following the note.
Breaking: Defense calls for mistrial in Ed Mangano case after juror sends note to court describing cursing, namecalling and "toxic environment" in jury room and calls in sick. Judge deciding next step. Stay tuned. @CBSNewYork
— Carolyn Gusoff (@GusoffTV) May 29, 2018
The judge denied the mistrial motion and replaced the juror with an alternate. The judge reminded the jury that deliberations often get heated and said they had to restart their deliberations with the alternate in place.
Judge denies motion for mistrial and seats an alternate Juror, ordering "deliberations must begin anew" after 1 juror called in sick and reported toxic envir. and deliberations had ceased. Judge says delib are often heated and orders delib to restart. @CBSNewYork
— Carolyn Gusoff (@GusoffTV) May 29, 2018
The judge ordered the jury back to the drawing board -- to begin deliberations anew.
juror being replaced reported deliberations had ceased amid toxic cursing and name calling . Judge says its ok they took a "therapeutic breather" but now that juror is dismissed due to med condition and alternate juror seated. Deliberations must start over. @CBSNewYork
— Carolyn Gusoff (@GusoffTV) May 29, 2018
"There is a lot of pressure in these situations and people are forced to express their opinions in ways they're not used to doing. They feel personal pressure to defend themselves," said John Carman, attorney for Linda Mangano. "Is it unusual? Yes, it's highly unusual."
Prosecutors had no comment on the change of juror.
Deliberations will resume Wednesday morning.
Last week, the jury found former Oyster Bay town supervisor John Venditto not guilty of all charges.