The following italicized article is from www.people.com:A mistrial was declared Tuesday in Britney Spears's misdemeanor trial for driving without a license. The jury was deadlocked 10-2 in favor of the singer's innocence, the foreman said in open court.
"The jury is hopelessly deadlocked, and I declare this a mistrial," stated Judge James A. Steele.
The jury had deliberated for three days in the trial, which involved only one day of witness testimony.
Spears, 26, had been accused of driving without a California license, stemming from an August 2007 fender-bender.
The singer's father, Jamie Spears, testified his daughter had a Louisiana license on the day in question, and that she considers Louisiana her permanent residence and plans to return.
"Today's outcome shows my client did nothing wrong. I consider this a victory," said Britney's attorney, Michael Flanagan. "Britney was vindicated in that she took on a system that attempted to make an example of her celebrity."
Prosecutor Michael Amerian had no comment for the time being, pending a 1:30 p.m. hearing Tuesday, at which Judge Steele could possibly dismiss the case. If not, the prosecutor could announce his intent to retry Spears – an unlikely move, given the jury's votes.
Celebrity Proved an Asset
Said jury foreman Gary Moy, 45, a communications analyst (and one of two jurors who voted guilty): "We felt deadlocked from the beginning, there were lots of questions about lack of evidence, whether Spears had a Louisiana license or not, what the definition of residency was. We felt we were never given all the facts in the case."
He added, "Some jurors felt their time was wasted."
Moy also noted that he believed Spears's celebrity worked in her favor, saying that people have a "natural propensity to identify with celebrities, and I feel some of the jurors inserted their personal feelings" into their decision-making.
Source: People
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