Jury still deliberating in Blackthorne case

Jurors have spent more than 20 hours considering whether he is responsible for the death of his ex-wife, Sheila Bellush.

By LEANORA MINAI

© St. Petersburg Times, published July 4, 2000

SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- Jurors considering the federal murder-for-hire case against Allen Blackthorne deliberated until late Monday night but failed to reach a verdict. The jury is off today for the July Fourth holiday and will return to U.S. District Court at 9 a.m. Wednesday. The panel of eight men and four women has sat in secret for more than 20 hours, discussing whether Blackthorne is responsible for the death of his ex-wife, Sheila Bellush.

"This is so ridiculous," said 64-year-old Gene Smith, Mrs. Bellush's mother, who has been in San Antonio since June 12, the start of the trial. "I can't believe it."

Jurors began deliberations Thursday, met all day Friday, and then took the weekend off. On Monday, they sent two notes to U.S. District Court Judge Edward C. Prado.

In the morning, they asked about court rules regarding evidence that defense attorneys must turn over to the government. They ate lunch together at Spaghetti Warehouse. Later in the day, jurors asked to see videotape of San Antonio news broadcasts.

"They're being conscientious, which is what anyone would hope and pray for," said David Botsford, one of Blackthorne's five defense attorneys.

Added Blackthorne's wife, Maureen Blackthorne, 39: "They can take as long as they need to take."

The day dragged for court watchers and Mrs. Bellush's mother, stepfather and aunts, who have held vigil in the building since deliberations began. Mrs. Bellush's widower, Jamie Bellush, has been absent. He awaits word of a verdict at a San Antonio hotel.

Judge Prado, wearing a patriotic tie of red, white and blue colors, ate lunch Monday with 12 reporters at El Mirador, a Mexican restaurant a few blocks from the courthouse. Over cheese enchiladas and refried beans, Prado said that if jurors return and say they are unable to unanimously reach a decision, he will tell them to go back and deliberate.

If jurors do so and return a second time as a hung jury, it is likely Prado will call a mistrial. Federal prosecutors would then decide whether to retry the case or refer the case to Bexar County District Attorney Susan Reed for prosecution.

Blackthorne, 45, was indicted earlier this year in San Antonio on federal charges of conspiring to commit murder-for-hire and of arranging an act of domestic violence across state lines.

Two middlemen are serving prison sentences for their role in Mrs. Bellush's murder. Jose Luis Del Toro Jr., who is accused of being the hitman, is expected to stand trial in Sarasota next week.

Mrs. Bellush, 35, was shot and stabbed in her Sarasota home Nov. 7, 1997, six weeks after she had moved there from San Antonio with the two daughters she had with Blackthorne; her new husband, Bellush, and their quadruplet toddlers.

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