CBS 11 (Dallas) : Holy Land Juror Speaks Out About Trial

Holy Land Juror Speaks Out About Trial

by Clif Caldwell | Oct 23, 2007

(CBS 11 News) DALLAS One of the jurors from the Holy Land Foundation trial is speaking out today.

William Neal says there was turmoil on the jury and the government failed to prove its case. And he says he doesn't believe all members of the jury put their best effort into reaching a verdict.

Nobody won in the trial. The judge declared a mistrial on most of the counts after two months of testimony and 19 days of deliberations.

"Every 3 days," Neal said, "it felt like we came to a complete deadlock."

Neal was one of three people who objected yesterday when Judge Fish polled the jury. His complaint was that jurors didn't reach a verdict on all counts.

The jury voted not guilty on all counts for one man and not guilty on all but three counts for two others. There was no verdict for the remaining two defendants.

But everything was thrown out when juror number six told the judge she did not agree with the signed jury form. Neal says the juror complained of being bullied. He says she just wasn't fully participating in the deliberations.

Neal is the only juror to respond to our requests for an interview. The government says it intends to re-try the case.