Courtroom Drama

CAMDEN, N.J. The jury considering murder-for-hire charges against Rabbi Fred J. Neulander resumed deliberations Friday after telling the judge they wanted more time.

The jury had told the judge the day before that they were at a standstill.

Meanwhile Friday, Superior Court Judge Linda G. Baxter met privately with attorneys and a juror who said a reporter tried to interview him. She agreed to let the jury continue deliberating.

The juror "did exactly the right thing in bringing it to the court's attention," Baxter said.

Carol Saline, a writer for Philadelphia Magazine who has also commented on the case on Court TV and WCAU-TV and edited early versions of a book Neulander recently published, told Baxter she did not intentionally violate Baxter's order. The order bars the media from any contact with the jury, even after the trial ends. Saline, who said she is inexperienced covering trials, said she asked him whether he thought any jurors would talk to reporters after the case was over. The juror told the judge that he did not answer.

"Let this be a warning. None of you in any way are to approach these jurors as they leave," Baxter told the 20 or so journalists in the courtroom. She said she would consider what should be done about the violation.

Baxter later denied a defense motion to declare a mistrial because of the contact.

Outside of the courthouse, Saline shielded her face from the media. "You don't like a reporter to cause a story," she said.

The events came more than a week into deliberations during which the jury has asked few questions.

Thursday's note to the judge read, in part: "We the jury have come to the point of our deliberations where we have come to a complete standstill. ... We don't anticipate any changes."

Baxter had asked the forewoman of the six-man, six-woman jury whether they were deadlocked on all three charges against Neulander. The forewoman said they were.

Through Thursday, the jury had considered capital murder, felony murder and conspiracy charges against Neulander for about 31 hours stretched over a week.

If they fail to reach a unanimous decision, the judge could declare a a mistrial. Neulander's attorneys would then probably ask that bail be set for the rabbi while he waits for a new trial expected to be sought by prosecutors.

If Neulander is convicted of capital murder, the same jury will reconvene to consider imposing the death penalty. A lesser murder charge would carry a mandatory prison sentence of at least 30 years.

Neulander, 60, is accused of offering Len Jenoff, a recovering alcoholic and private investigator, $30,000 to kill the rabbi's 52-year-old wife, Carol, on Nov. 1, 1994.

Jenoff, 56, and another man, Paul Michael Daniels, 27, pleaded guilty last year to aggravated manslaughter charges. Both are in jail awaiting sentences, which they won't receive until Neulander's case is resolved.

(Copyright 2001 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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Author: 6 - ABC, Action News