Mob jury reaches partial verdict on slayings
By Jeff Coen | Tribune staff reporter
4:56 PM CDT, September 27, 2007


The federal jury in the landmark Family Secrets mob trial has reached a partial verdict this afternoon but told the court that it is deadlocked on some of the 18 gangland slayings at the heart of the prosecution, court officials said.

U.S. District Judge James Zagel said he hasn't been told how many or which of the murders the jury has reached a unanimous decision on.

Zagel asked that the four defendants—Outfit figures James Marcello, Joey "the Clown" Lombardo, Frank Calabrese Sr. and Paul "the Indian" Schiro—be brought to court this afternoon to confer with their attorneys.

The judge said he intends to accept whatever partial verdict the jury reached and will ask them if they are deadlocked on the other counts.

On Sept. 10, the jury convicted the four as well as former Chicago police officer Anthony "Twan" Doyle of racketeering conspiracy.

In this second round of deliberations, the jury was deciding whether to hold Marcello, Lombardo, Calabrese and Schiro responsible for any of the 18 mob murders that date back decades. If found accountable in this phase, the defendants could face life in prison. Doyle is not charged with murder.

The judge told those gathered in the courtroom that he had received a note from the jury that read: "The jury has come to a unanimous decision on a number of counts," the judge said, and while the jury said it had deliberated earnestly and with open minds, "We find ourselves deadlocked on the remainder."

Zagel said the jury's note said the panel was prepared to "provide details" on where it had ended its work.

The judge said he intended to take at least a partial verdict and find out whether there would be value in them returning to talk further.

"I intend to accept whatever partial verdicts, and by number ask if they are fully deadlocked on the counts on which they have not reached a verdict," he said.

This was the eighth day of jury deliberations on the murders in the case. Since Sept. 12, the panel had begun discussing assigning blame for the slayings and had taken a few days off during the deliberation period.

Lawyers in the case were waiting on the 25th floor of the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse for the four defendants to be brought to court from the federal lockup in downtown Chicago.

It was unclear whether the jury would be dismissed or if the panel would be held to consider forfeiture proceedings against defendant Frank Calabrese Sr.

It also was not clear whether prosecutors would be addressing the media.

"Whether or not government officials will speak after any verdict is received will depend on whether or not this jury is dismissed or continues to serve for further proceedings," Randall Samborn, a spokesman for the U.S. attorney's office, said in a statement.

jcoen@tribune.com