The jury continues to deliberate in the trial of the defense attorneys Robert Simels and Arienne Irving. The panel completed its fifth full day of deliberating without reaching a verdict yesterday and is scheduled to return this morning at 9:30 a.m. After a contentious trial, the defendants, their attorneys and the prosecutors have now spent nearly 40 hours together in the same room, answering jury notes—39 and counting—and awaiting a verdict.
The gravity of the charges—both defendants face the possibility of life in prison for allegedly bribing and attempting to tamper with witnesses—is belied by the lightness of the courtroom, where attorneys discuss dwindling wardrobe options and endangered vacation plans. Ms. Irving spends much of her down time reading Entertainment Weekly and talking with her mother, who has waited with her each day. Ms. Irving’s attorney, Javier Solano, is making his way through Paul Auster’s “City of Glass.” Mr. Simels’ attorney, Gerald Shargel, occasionally reads documents on his Kindle in preparation for an upcoming trial. Mr. Simels’ visitors have included his family and, yesterday, Chris “Gotti” Lorenzo, who was acquitted of laundering drug money while represented by Mr. Shargel in 2001. - Mark Fass
After 16 Weeks, Prosecution Rests in Astor Will Trial
