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No verdict in du Pont trial; jury gets Saturday duty

Judge to repeat first-degree murder instructions

February 21, 1997
Web posted at: 11:00 p.m. EST

MEDIA, Pennsylvania (CNN) -- The jury in the John du Pont murder trial ended its fourth day of deliberations Friday with a request for the re-reading of a portion of the jury instructions.

Jury deliberations will resume Saturday morning after Judge Patricia Jenkins reads for a second time the instructions concerning first-degree murder.

Du Pont is accused in the shooting death of U.S. Olympic wrestler Dave Schultz. Defense lawyers argued that du Pont was insane at the time of the shooting and therefore not guilty.

Since deliberations began Tuesday, the jury has returned to the courtroom several times to re-hear testimony or jury instructions dealing with the three degrees of homicide with which du Pont has been charged -- first-degree murder, third- degree murder and voluntary manslaughter.

Dupont

Friday the jury asked to hear portions of testimony from Schultz's widow, Nancy, and Patrick Goodale, a security consultant who accompanied du Pont to Schultz's home on the day of the killing, January 26, 1996.

Schultz was killed outside his home on the du Pont estate, where he was a coach at a training facility du Pont established.

Du Pont's lawyers have conceded du Pont killed Schultz, but are seeking a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity, saying he was unaware that what he was doing was wrong.'

In addition to verdicts of not guilty or not guilty by reason of insanity, the jurors can render verdicts of guilty or guilty but mentally ill.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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