CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The look of weariness seemed almost unanimous at the federal courthouse in Charleston Monday as the jury deliberating the Don Blankenship criminal trial walked in and out of the building without producing a verdict for the fourth full day since getting the case last Tuesday evening.
The 8-women and 4-men asked no questions of U.S. District Judge Irene Berger, the first day that’s happened, with the exception of being allowed to take a lunch break and being able to go home at just before 5 p.m.
The deliberations have now gone nearly 22 hours. Blankenship, 65, the former Massey Energy CEO, is charged with three federal criminal counts. He allegedly conspired to break federal mine safety laws at the Upper Big Branch mine in Raleigh County in the months before the April 2010 explosion there that killed 29 miners. He then allegedly lied in a statement to shareholders about Massey’s safety record in the days after the explosion.
Several UBB family members are keeping vigil just down the hall from where the jury is trying to decide Blankenship’s fate. There are also more than a dozen reporters from around West Virginia and around the country awaiting the jury’s decision.
Judge Berger reminded the panel again Monday evening that if there’s no verdict, Tuesday would be the final day of deliberations this week.