Jurors have told a judge they can not agree on a verdict in the trial of ex-Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship, but the judge ordered them to continue deliberating. Defense lawyer Bill Taylor asked the judge if the parties should return at lunchtime to see if the jury is taking a break.
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Jurors have returned to the federal courthouse in Charleston to continue deliberating on a verdict in the trial of Don Blankenship.
U.S. District Judge Irene Berger ordered the eight women and four men to return to their work after they take 90 minutes off for lunch.
The jury has recessed for lunch, and will continue deliberating at 1:20 p.m.
The case grew out of the government’s investigation into the explosion at Massey’s Upper Big Branch Mine in Raleigh County, W.Va., in 2010, in which 29 miners were killed.
Blankenship faces three felony counts over allegations that he ignored hundreds of safety breaches at the mine.
Prosecutors have sought to convince jurors during the seven-week trial that Blankenship was the mastermind of a conspiracy to evade safety laws at Upper Big Branch, located in Montcoal, West Virginia, about 45 miles (70 kilometers) south of Charleston. The blast was the worst US mining disaster in more than 30 years.
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Blankenship’s trial began October 1. He also is charged with making a false statement and with securities fraud in connection with a statement issued after the mine explosion that said Massey did not condone safety violations and tried to comply with all rules at all times.
