It has been somewhat of tortuous path to a verdict for contractor Bobby Ferguson, accused of rigging a $12 million bid for a low income housing project in Detroit. Two jurors were dismissed this week.
First on Tuesday, on the third day of deliberations in federal court, a judge dismissed a juror who fell ill. A couple of the defense attorneys wanted to proceed with 11 jurors so as not to create any delays. But U.S. District Judge David Lawson decided to seat an alternate. That created a little bit of a setback. The judge ordered that that deliberations begin all over again so that the alternate could be in on the talks from the beginning.
Then on Friday, another problem surfaced. A juror who had a pre-paid vacation wasn't going to be able to continue deliberating next week. The judge had told her from the onset that it wouldn't be a problem going on vacation because the trial would be over by then. He was wrong.
So at the end of the day Friday, he dismissed her and agreed to proceed with 11 jurors, according to the Detroit Free Press.
The Freep reported that the prosecution and three defendants -- Ferguson, Michael Woodhouse and Calvin Hall -- all agreed to proceed with 11 jurors.
Deliberations resume Tuesday. -- A.L.
