Trouble in jury room in Gotti trial

NEW YORK, Oct. 28 (UPI) -- A jury member in the New York trial of mob scion John Gotti Jr. says another juror is biased toward the defense and ready to drag out deliberations.

The complaining juror sent an anonymous two-page letter Tuesday to U.S. District Judge Kevin Castel, the New York Daily News reported. Because the jury is anonymous, the target of the complaint was identified only as Juror No. 7.

"She announced that we, the jurors, better be prepared to be deliberating until after the Christmas holiday because ... she is not going to allow any (expletive) body to rush her," the complainant said.

The complainant appeared to have a defense lawyer, Charles Carnesi, confused with a defendant, Charles Carneglia, saying No. 7 found the lawyer "very handsome" and was giving "undivided attention" to the defense side in the trial.

That led Gotti to joke to a radio producer, Frank Morano, speaking when jurors could not hear him: "Hey, Frank, the juror thinks the guy who represents me is a five-time murderer! What shot do I have?"

Castel dealt with the complaint by warning jurors against discussing the case outside of court and advising them to treat each other with respect.