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June 26, 2007

No verdict today in Richardson murder case

WARWICK -- The jury weighing the fate of James Richardson, the man accused of killing Margaret Duffy-Stephenson of Warwick in 2005, finished a third day of deliberations without reaching a verdict.

The jury -- which this afternoon asked for information that was taken up with the lawyers in chambers and therefore not disclosed -- will be back in Kent County Superior Court tomorrow morning.

That was after the jury told the judge at 1:23 p.m. today that it was dead-locked.

Keep deliberating, Superior Court Judge Francis J. Darigan Jr. replied.

When the jurors reported they have been unable to reach a verdict, Darigan essentially gave them a pep talk, encouraging them to go back in and deliberate more.

"Two days and some hours isn't that much time, considering you've spent three solid weeks on this case," he told them. "You've been asked to do a difficult task. My hope is that you successfully complete that task by rendering a unanimous verdict."

After a reasonable amount of time, if the jury cannot reach a verdict, Darigan said he'd go from there.

The jury went back into deliberations at 1:33 p.m.

Richardson is accused of the multiple-stabbing murder of Margaret Duffy-Stephenson, a teacher's aide from Warwick who was found dead in 2005 by her father after no one had been able to contact her.

The jury in Kent County Superior Court began weighing the fate of Richardson, of Cranston, on Friday afternoon.

Earlier today, the jury sought clarification from the judge on what constitutes a reasonable doubt.

Reasonable doubt is based on evidence or lack of evidence, the jury was told today. It does not mean it is beyond all doubt, beyond all shadow of doubt or all possible doubt. "Mere suspicion, however strong, cannot sustain or justifiy a guilty verdict," Darigan told the jury.

Yesterday, the jury asked to have some a transcript of some testimony read to them.

-- With reports from Journal staff writer Talia Buford

Posted by Mike McKinney  at 4:25 PM | Permalink

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