GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – Confusion reigned in the trial of former US presidential candidate John Edwards, after the jury was told to continue deliberations, then came back an hour later saying they couldn’t reach an agreement on five of six charges.
The judge has declared a mistrial. Forbes says the jury voted not guilty on one count, but other US media closely following the case say this isn’t clear.
Edwards has been on trial for campaign finance corruption in a case that has been marked by a number of twists and turns. The indictments in June 2011 centre around $1 million in contributions to Edwards to hide an extra-marital affair (and pregnancy) he had while running for president, with the prosecution alleging that since the money was designed to protect Edwards during the presidential race it can be considered a campaign contribution.
Edwards’s wife was ill with a terminal case of cancer at the time of the campaign and his affair.
