After
Dr. Di Maio's testimony, I thought the jury might come back quickly. I thought he settled almost all the key issues regarding 'self-defense' (justifiable use of deadly force), and his testimony on those points was either uncontradicted or contradicted only by
Dr. Rao. To me Dr. Rao seems a less impressive witness in both presentation and credentials, and I thought she was clearly biased.
One thing I think is especially impressive about Dr. Di Maio as a witness, is that he doesn't frequently testify for criminal defendants. For much of his career he was a medical examiner for one jurisdiction or another, and in private practice he has mostly testified in civil cases. I can hardly see him as a hired gun whose opinion is for sale, and even less so when his eminence in his field is considered as well.
But I have been living with this case for months, so it's easy for me to see how new pieces fit. The jury has had all this thrown at them over the last three weeks. They may want to take their time, and look carefully at all the evidence. It's what I would do.
By all accounts it's a conscientious jury, attentive and taking a lot of notes. Their preference for a heavy work schedule has made me wonder how patient they are with sequestration. But it may be that they pushed the trial schedule because they wanted to take their time in deliberations.
I expect all the jurors will be mindful of how the Casey Anthony jurors were criticized for bringing in an unpopular verdict after a short deliberation period. Those that don't know will have been told by the others.
Opinion on this case is more evenly divided than on the Anthony case, but that just means the jurors are on the firing line wherever they come down.
My bet is the jurors will be out for a few days.
All of the above is my opinions.
