Jury in slain stepdad trial told to keep deliberating

SAN DIEGO COURTS: Jurors in the trial of Nathaniel Gann, a young man accused of fatally shooting his stepfather, announced yesterday they were unable to reach a verdict in the case.

However, a judge determined that the jury hadn't been deliberating long enough to be hopelessly deadlocked, and he sent the panel back to the jury room to continue discussions.

San Diego Superior Court Judge Frederic Link said he received a note yesterday afternoon indicating the jurors had reached an impasse after deliberating about a day.

The foreman said they took two votes and were divided 6-4-2, a split that was not further explained.

Link read the jury a brief instruction, over the defense attorney's objections, and said, “We will see what will happen” when the jury returns to court today.

Deliberations began Tuesday afternoon to determine whether Gann, 20, is guilty of murder and a special allegation of lying in wait in his stepfather's death. Prosecutors contend that Gann and his sister killed attorney Timothy MacNeil, 63, on July 19, 2007.

The sister, Brae Hansen, is scheduled to go to trial Jan. 20. –D.L.