Espada jurors told to work together

A federal judge Thursday told the jury in the Pedro Espada corruption trial to try to deliberate together, one day after getting a note complaining that one panel member's mind was "made up."

U.S. District Judge Frederic Block said on Wednesday he would question the juror accused of spurning discussions and determine whether removal for refusal to deliberate was appropriate. In that event, the case could be decided by the 11 remaining jurors.

But Thursday morning, both the defense and prosecution urged Block to take a go-slow approach, and simply remind the entire panel of its duties. He told the 12 that they should each "stick to your guns" if they had a strong view of guilt or innocence, but also said "your obligation is to be open-minded."

In two notes later in the day, jurors requested an extensive array of exhibits and testimony -- a sign, Block speculated, that the panel might be deliberating effectively.

Espada, 58, and his son, Pedro G. Espada, are accused of stealing more than $600,000 through credit card abuse and other schemes from the nonprofit Soundview health clinic in the Bronx that they control. The senior Espada, for a brief period, served as the majority leader for Senate Democrats.

For the second day in a row, Espada held a sidewalk news conference to praise the jury and blast New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo for cutting off funding for Soundview, after Block brushed off a complaint from prosecutors that the ex-senator was trying to improperly influence the jury through the media.

Asked if he thought the dissenting juror was on his side, Espada flashed a smile. "I'm not going to speculate," he said. "I want 12 jurors to be with me."