Just prior to Tuesday’s evacuation at Schuylkill County Courthouse, the jury in the John F. Gustites murder trial was given the case and told to deliberate until they reached a verdict on all counts.
While the Courthouse was evacuated, the jury deliberated inside the Schuylkill County Adult Probation offices on Third St. That lasted for about five hours.
When the Courthouse reopened, the jury was reconvened before Schuylkill County Judge Chris Hobbs and said they have not reached a unanimous decision on any of the counts Gustites is facing.
Gustites is accused of shooting his son in the face following a disagreement over the family vehicle in September 2024. He is facing felony charges of third-degree murder, voluntary manslaughter, and aggravated assault and misdemeanor counts of reckless endangerment and simple assault.
During the evacuation deliberations, the jury reportedly asked two questions, based on what Hobbs revealed back in the courtroom Tuesday afternoon. One question was based on the length of deliberations.
The other question was the jury wanted to know why self-defense could not be considered in this case. The judge said that was not part of his instructions to the jury.
Hobbs said the facts in the case as they were presented were “very simple” and that his instructions were also.
He ordered the jury back to resume deliberations on Wednesday morning at 9 a.m.
“We’re going to keep working,” Hobbs said.
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