The actions in Judge Lawrence McKenna's federal courtroom
yesterday were "as bizarre as anything ever witnessed in a Las
Vegas boxing ring," according to NEWSDAY's Greg Logan. After
jurors in promoter Don King's insurance fraud trial told the
judge they were "irretrievably deadlocked" after only 12 hours of
deliberation, McKenna declared a mistrial. The judge then
allowed prosecutors to petition the Court of Appeals for an order
that he impose the Allen Charge, which would force jurors to
deliberate until reaching a verdict. Ultimately, the Judge
agreed to bring the jurors back, although the prosecution returns
to the Appeals Court today to seek a writ commanding McKenna to
enforce the Allen Charge. If a mistrial is declared, the
prosecution must decide whether to re-try the case (NEWSDAY,
11/17). In L.A., John Goldman writes, "The confusion and
controversy had all the earmarks of a Don King promotion" (L.A.
TIMES, 11/17). Wallace Matthews writes, "King is on the verge of
wriggling off the hook once again" (N.Y. POST, 11/17). Several
reports note one juror has a trip planned for this evening, and
McKenna has already released the alternate jurors. George Vecsey
writes, "It has come down to this for Don King: One of the
jurors has a nonrefundable ticket tonight to South Africa, and
she fully intends to use it" (N.Y. TIMES, 11/17).
ESPN analyst Ken Caruso: "I'd be surprised if the Appeals Court
grants any relief, but the case has been full of surprises and
hasn't really gone by the book" (ESPN, 11/16).
