Jury struggles to reach verdict in US cult trial

The defence in the case of two British women accused of conspiring to murder a US federal attorney in Oregon in 1985 threatened to ask for a mistrial yesterday, after the jury indicated that it was having trouble in reaching a verdict.

In a note to Judge Malcolm Marsh, the jury said that the area of deadlock was in relation to one of the defendants. It did not specify which one. But the judge instructed the 12-person jury to return to their deliberations.

"You are here for the purpose of making your best effort to return a verdict," he told the 10 women and two men.

The jury in the trial of Sally-Anne Croft and Susan Hagan began its deliberations on Tuesday. If the pair are found guilty, they could face heavy jail sentences. As a federal case, the sentencing would not allow for any parole.

If a mistrial is declared, it would be for the government of the United States to decide whether to request a new trial of the women, or allow them to return to Britain.