Jury acquits on some charges, deadlocks on most in Enron case

[Judi Lynn]

Jury acquits on some charges, deadlocks on most in Enron case

July 21, 2005

HOUSTON A federal court jury in Houston has acquitted three former Enron broadband executives of some charges but deadlocked on the remaining charges involving them and two other executives.

The five were on trial for their alleged roles in making the failed broadband venture appear strong to investors to boost the company's stock price.

Federal Judge Vanessa Gilmore refused requests from attorneys to identify the nature of the jury split. She issued an order barring jurors from discussing the case, which she said would have to be retried.

http://www.wboc.com/Global/story.asp?S=3621187

[wli]

1. now they're contracting their document shredding expertise to the Pentagon

[roguevalley]

2. there truly is no justice in this world. those jurors, I loathe them.

people killed themselves over this.

[Judi Lynn]

3. No guilty verdicts in latest Enron case

July 21, 2005, 5:57AM

BROADBAND TRIAL: THE OUTCOME

No guilty verdicts in latest Enron case
Results of fraud case spell trouble for prosecutors in future trials, legal experts say
By MARY FLOOD
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle

Three months after the Enron Internet fraud trial began, prosecutors failed Wednesday to win a single conviction against any of the five defendants.

After deliberating less than 24 hours over four days, a Houston federal court jury acquitted three of the men on some charges and deadlocked on most of the Enron Broadband Services case.

The five men faced various charges relating to their roles in allegedly misleading investors regarding the success of the Internet venture.

It's the second blow in less than two months for the Enron Task Force: The U.S. Supreme Court earlier overturned the obstruction of justice conviction against the Arthur Andersen accounting firm.
(snip)

"This verdict is a reflection of the complexity of this pro- secution," said Robert Mintz, a New Jersey-based legal expert who follows the cases. "It spells trouble for the government trying to convince jurors in this case and others in the future."
(snip/...)

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/topstory/3275470
(Free registration required)

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Is it possible some of them are being bribed?

[Yupster]

5. More likely that

the government didn't do a good job proving its case.

I haven't followed this, but cases involving thousands of documents and business plans, and third party transactionsd are difficult for jurors to follow. It's up to the prosecution to make sense of it to the jurors.

[KeepItReal]

4. Kenny Boy must take extreme delight in the Fed's incompetence

His investment in Bush & Co. is probably gonna pay off...

[Rose Siding]

6. Houston Chronicle: Results spell trouble for prosecutors in future trials

Three months after the Enron Internet fraud trial began, prosecutors failed Wednesday to win a single conviction against any of the five defendants.

After deliberating less than 24 hours over four days, a Houston federal court jury acquitted three of the men on some charges and deadlocked on most of the Enron Broadband Services case.

The five men faced various charges relating to their roles in allegedly misleading investors regarding the success of the Internet venture.

It's the second blow in less than two months for the Enron Task Force: The U.S. Supreme Court earlier overturned the obstruction of justice conviction against the Arthur Andersen accounting firm.

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/front/3275470

[bribri16]

7. Working men and women everywhere in the US should be up in arms

about how the "courts" the corporate-loving, Republican ass-kissing courts protect white-collar criminals who steal from working men and women. Is there a "three-strikes" for corporate criminals?

[Felix Mala]

8. Did defendants get any under-the-table Justice Dept. help?