Embroiled Cellini Trial Juror Storms Out Of Court, Yells, 'Leave Me Alone!'
CHICAGO (CBS) -- During as post-trial hearing Friday, a juror in the trial of convicted powerbroker William Cellini stormed out of court, yelling, "Leave me alone!"
As WBBM Newsradio's John Cody reports, defense attorney Dan Webb and his colleagues are arguing, on the grounds that the juror, Candy Chiles, was so untruthful during jury selection that Cellini should get a new trial.
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At the hearing, Chiles acknowledged she had more contact with law enforcement than she admitted before being picked for the Cellini jury.
She admitted she served 44 days in the Cook County Jail on a DUI charge, for which she subsequently got probation.
Chiles says she did not tell the court about a 1998 cocaine sales conviction, "explaining it was some foolishness way in the past that she just put out of her mind."
Cellini was convicted on Nov. 1 of trying to shake down a movie producer for campaign cash for former Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Chiles' felony convictions did not come to light until after Cellini was convicted.
At the hearing Friday, U.S. District Judge James B. Zagel chastised Webb for "provoking" Chiles and suggested Webb change his tone to be less hostile. Webb denied using a hostile tone.
