A New York City jury considering the fate of a wealthy hedge fund boss accused of insider trading was ordered on Wednesday to set aside its week of deliberations and restart its work with a new juror.
Federal Judge Richard Holwell dismissed a sick juror Tuesday at the trial of hedge fund owner Raj Rajaratnam.
His instruction comes a week after deliberations began. The judge also told jurors not to hold it against Rajaratnam that he can't be in court Wednesday. He had emergency surgery on his foot earlier this week.
"You must disregard your earlier deliberations and begin your deliberations anew," Holwell told the jurors. An alternate juror will replace the dismissed juror, and a new foreman must be chosen, he added.
Jurors had deliberated for six days prior to Wednesday.
Prosecutors say the Sri Lankan-born 53-year-old Galleon Group chief made tens of millions of dollars by trading on inside tips. The defense argued he relied on public information and complex analysis for his decisions.