Jury deliberation entered a second day Friday in the trial of former Georgia Tech football player Recardo Wimbush, 35, and his wife Therian Wimbush, 39.
The Wimbushes are charged with seven counts of child abuse. They kept their oldest son, then 13, locked in a small, dark basement room for 18 months, and kept a younger son, then 7, from seeing a doctor while a malignant skin tumor grew on his abdomen.
After more than five hours of total deliberation, the jury asked Judge Deborah Fluker if they had to unanimously decide on all charges. Fluker reaffirmed that the jury must be unanimous and sent them to deliberate further around 10:45 a.m. Friday.
Fluker indicated that she wanted the jury to deliberate longer, and at that point, it was too early for a verdict to be considered.
“I don't believe they've been deliberating long enough for me to entertain taking a verdict right now," Fluker said to the prosecutor and the Wimbushes, who are acting as their own attorneys in the case.
Catch up on the Wimbush case:
Day 1: Son kept in basement for 18 months testifies as Wimbush trial begins
Day 2: Wimbush trial: Son's tumor 'most extensive' doctor has seen
Prosecution rests in Wimbush trial; parents begin their defense
Wimbushes question children in case of siblings' abuse
Day 3: No verdict yet in Wimbush case; jury continues deliberating Friday
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