California, United States of America
The following excerpt is from People v. Hunt, H037380, H038256 (Cal. App. 2014):
involving a serious crime and multiple perpetrators. More than 40 witnesses testified on 20 days between May 24 and August 4, 2011, and numerous exhibits were admitted into evidence. Jury instructions were given on August 8, 2011, and counsel presented argument to the jury on August 9, 10, and 11, 2011. Under these circumstances, the length of deliberations suggests a diligent and conscientious jury. (Cf. People v. Cooper (1991) 53 Cal.3d 771, 837 [deliberations for 27 hours showed a "conscientious" jury, rather than a close case, in a three-month trial with complex scientific testing]; People v. Houston (2005) 130 Cal.App.4th 279, 301 [deliberation over four days may reflect jury's diligence and "conscientious performance," rather than a close case, where extensive trial proceedings involved more than three dozen witnesses on 10 days spread over three weeks, and lengthy closing arguments and jury instructions spread over two additional days].)
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