Melton Trial Goes to the Jury

Jackson Mayor Frank Melton

Jurors in the federal trial of Jackson Mayor Frank Melton will continue deliberating today. MPB's Lawayne Childrey is following the case.

At about 6:20 yesterday evening the fate of Jackson Mayor Frank Melton and former bodyguard, Michael Recio was handed over to an impartial jury of their peers. The two men are accused of taking part in the sledgehammer destruction of a Jackson home that Melton believed to be a crack house.
During closing arguments government and defense attorney's made a last
ditch effort to sway jurors. Melton's attorney John Reeve's told them that the real question is what was the mayors intent. he then said quote" You have heard all the evidence from liars and drunks. You've heard how the house was a place where drugs were bought, sold and used. with all that action going on how could the Mayor of Jackson not do anything?" But Government attorney, mark Blumberg reminded jurors that "this case is not about protecting anybody. this is about doing whatever you can get away with."
Shortly after 8pm jurors decided to end deliberations and go home for the night. On the steps of the courthouse house Reeves told reporters that he was confident in the way he conducted his case but had particular praise for the governments team.

"The prosecutors from the department of justice are just very qualified professional people, well trained. They know every rule in every book and can quote it to the paragraph to the line and word. But that's a level of legal practice that you don't see everyday anywhere in the country. It's been quite a challenge to keep up, we've done our best to do that and I think we have."

When court resumes this morning at 8:30 jurors will be given copies of testimony from the governments key witness, Marcus Wright. For MPB news, I'm Lawayne Childrey.