Harris jury dismissed for day without reaching verdict

Ross Harris sits at the defense table Tuesday as the hot-car murder trial jury began deliberating his fate. (Screen capture from WSB-TV) WSB-TV

Ross Harris sits at the defense table Tuesday as the hot-car murder trial jury began deliberating his fate. (Screen capture from WSB-TV) WSB-TV

The jury in the hot-car murder trial on Tuesday were dismissed for the afternoon after deliberating almost three hours without reaching a verdict.

(Harris facing many decades in prison)

Judge Mary Staley Clark had already arranged to give the jury the afternoon off so they could cast their ballots on Election Day. They will return again Wednesday morning.

The jury sent a number of questions to the judge as they set about their deliberations.

For example, jurors asked if they could get a transcript of Harris’ interview with Cobb County Police Det. Phil Stoddard just a few hours after Harris pulled his dead son out of his SUV. Staley Clark would not provide the transcript but is going to allow the jury to watch the video of the interview when jurors return in the morning.

Throughout much of the morning, Harris sat at the defense table with his attorneys. He did not appear outwardly nervous and laughed several times during conversations with the lawyers.