Jury Deliberating in Arson-Murder Trial
After deliberating all day Monday a verdict in the Jill Smith and Peter Delaney arson-murder trial has not been reached.
Jury deliberations in the arson-murder trial of Jill Smith and Peter Delaney began at 8 a.m. on Monday and will continue Tuesday at the Forsyth County Courthouse.
Smith and Delaney are charged with felony murder and first-degree arson in connection with the Oct. 22, 2010 fire that killed Smith's husband, Michael, in the couple's home in south Forsyth County. Their trial began on Feb. 15.
Just before 5 p.m. on Monday, while the jury was still deliberating, court was called back into session by Superior Court Judge David Dickinson. He said the jury had a question about some of the evidence found in the master bedroom [the room where the fire started] of the Smith residence and wanted to hear that information again.
The jury was then called back into the courtroom and heard from Clay White, the court staff attorney, who read two-three page documents that contained information submitted by the Forsyth County fire investigator that may potentially help answer the jury's question.
Meanwhile, the jury is expected to resume deliberations on Tuesday at 8 a.m.