Tuesday, 21 October 2008

Jury deadlocked in Britney Spears traffic case

Singer must wait longer for verdict

Britney was charged for driving without a license last year

A jury was split 10-2 on Monday on whether Britney Spears was guilty of driving without a license.

The judge sent the panel back for more deliberations. After another two hours, and still no verdict, the judge dismissed them for the night. Deliberations are to resume Tuesday.

It wasn't known whether they were leaning toward guilt or innocence. A unanimous guilty vote was needed for conviction.

Spears, 26, was charged with a misdemeanor offense for allegedly lacking a valid California license at the time of a fender-bender last year. The charge carries a maximum penalty of six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.

The jury began deliberations Friday after the prosecution argued that Spears should have had a California license since she had made the state her home, with her marriage, births of her children and divorce all occurring in California.

Spears's defense called her father to testify that Britney considers Louisiana home. The pop star says she had a Louisiana license at the time of the accident (though she since has gotten a California one).