Judge Tells Anna Nicole Jury Deadlock Is An Option

LOS ANGELES (AP) —Jurors in the Anna Nicole Smith drug conspiracy case have gone home for the day.

Jurors indicated earlier Wednesday they are struggling to reach decisions on some charges against the former model's two doctors and boyfriend. The judge told them they should not hesitate to declare a deadlock if they can't agree on verdicts.

The jury sent notes asking what it should do if unable to reach a verdict on "a count or an object crime." The panel also asked whether it would be correct to conclude Smith's drugs had no legitimate medical purpose if jurors find the prescriptions were written in excessive amounts. The judge told them the answer was no.

Howard K. Stern and Drs. Sandeep Kapoor and Khristine Eroshevich are charged with conspiring to give Smith excessive drugs.

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