Calvin Harris and defense lawyer Donna Aldea arrive at the Schoharie County Courthouse on Wednesday for the tenth day of jury deliberations. (Photo by Wendy Post)
The only thing that changed on Wednesday in the Calvin Harris second-degree murder trial was the weather, with temperatures in the lower 50’s when the jurors, defendant, and counsel showed up for court in Schoharie County.
It has been two days as of the end of deliberating on Wednesday since Judge George R. Bartlett III delivered a second Allen charge to encourage the deadlocked jury to continue. The jury, on Wednesday, entered into their tenth day of deliberations.
The jurors went into deliberations at 9:20 a.m. on Wednesday, and were dismissed for the day at 11:55 a.m. because of a juror appointment.
The jury also sent a note to the judge on Wednesday morning, noting a conflict in a juror schedule for Friday morning – meaning the jury will not begin deliberating until later in the day on Friday, withstanding a verdict before that time.
Defense Attorney Bruce Barket said he was worried that precedence has been set for juror appointments, but also told the court, “It seems that the jurors are deliberating when they can’t. They are clearly deadlocked and that’s evident to all.”
But with that said, the jury was instructed and continued their deliberations for the little over two and a half hours they were in court on Wednesday. Deliberations will continue at 9:15 a.m. on Thursday.
Calvin Harris, age 53 of Spencer, N.Y., is on trial for a third time for the alleged murder of his wife, Michele Harris, who disappeared in September of 2001. Two previous convictions were overturned, and this new trial ordered in Schoharie County. Neither her body nor a weapon has ever been found.
The prosecution maintains that Calvin Harris murdered Michele Harris on Sept. 11, 2001, and has based this circumstantial case on blood spatter found inside the Harris’ home, as well as motive and behavior.
The defense claims their client is innocent, and that the prosecutors failed to look at other potential suspects.
