The corruption trial of two former Tyco International executives ended in a mistrial last night after an apparent holdout juror received a threatening letter, leaving the judge with "no choice" but to halt the 12-day-old deliberations.
The singled-out juror, who triggered a courtroom tempest last week when she appeared to give defendant Dennis Kozlowski an approving hand signal, had received the letter in the previous 24 hours, courtroom sources said.
State Supreme Court Judge Michael Obus, visibly upset and with a quaking voice, said it was a "shame" the judicial process could not be protected.
"I have no choice but to grant a mistrial," Judge Obus said, citing "outside pressure" on one juror.
The mistrial ended a six-month-long trial for Mr Kozlowski, Tyco's former chairman, and Mr Mark Swartz, its ex-finance chief, who were accused of looting the conglomerate of $600 million in one of the biggest corporate corruption cases in US history.
Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau said his office would seek a retrial.
Defense attorneys sought a mistrial all week, arguing that media exposure of the juror, 79-year-old Ms Ruth Jordan, prevented the panel from reaching a fair verdict.
The retired teacher and lawyer sparked the controversy last week when she made what was widely reported as an "OK" hand gesture toward the defense.
That followed jury complaints to the judge about a "poisonous" atmosphere in the deliberation room. Jury notes indicated most panelists were leaning toward guilty verdicts.