Jurors in Miami corruption case report illegal contacts
Judge: Person claiming to be journalist calling jurors
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An artist's rendering shows defendants and their attorneys sitting before U.S. District Judge Alan Gold, upper left, at the federal courthouse in Miami.
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MIAMI (AP) -- The judge in the corruption trial of 11 police officers closed his courtroom Thursday, saying someone claiming to be a journalist was calling the jurors at their homes during deliberations.
U.S. District Judge Alan Gold said he had received "a number of notes" of complaint from the jurors but did not elaborate before ejecting reporters and spectators so he could speak with attorneys and defendants.
By law, members of the news media are banned from speaking to jurors before a trial ends.
He promised to reopen the court after discussing the jurors' reports and sternly said he would "give direction as to what I'm going to do about it."
The day before, after receiving the first note on the subject, he had reminded reporters of the law and threatened contempt of court to anyone crossing the line in the high-profile case.
The Miami officers are accused of planting guns on unarmed suspects after four police shootings from 1995 to 1997, or of covering up the misconduct. The shootings left three men dead and one wounded.
Jurors' names and addresses have been closely guarded. Names were announced in court during jury selection in January, but the panelists have been identified only by numbers since then.
Phone taps possible
With permission from a judge, marshals could tap jurors' telephones and put jurors under surveillance. The judge also could sequester the jury, which appeared close to ending its work.
The jury is considering 33 counts of conspiracy, perjury and obstruction of justice against the officers. Different sets of officers are charged in the four shootings covered by the indictment. Ten could face up to 10 years in prison and one faces a potential five-year term.
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