Chicago Mob Trial deliberations. Day Three.

A recap of day 3 from Chicago Tribune:

A federal court jury considering the biggest Chicago mob trial in years has asked for the legal definition of the word "intimidation."

Federal Judge James Zagel told attorneys about the jurors' request late this morning. He asked attorneys to return at 1:30 with proposals on how the word should be defined.

The five defendants are accused of engaging in a racketeering conspiracy including 18 murders dating back to 1970, illegal gambling, loan sharking and extortion.
Eventually, Zagel pointed jurors to lengthy instructions they received last week that contained a definition of "intimidation" under Illinois law.

That definition, in the judge's words, essentially said intimidation occurred when a person communicates to an individual a threat to inflict harm with the intent to cause that individual to perform a certain act.

Both words the jury has asked about appear at the beginning of the 43-page indictment. The charges allege that intimidation was used to collect on high-interest, or "usurious," loans.

Jurors informed the court that they would not be deliberating Friday. Court wasn't held Fridays during the 10-week trial, enabling jurors with jobs to work at least one day a week.

Jurors also asked the judge Thursday for help in operating some of the electronic equipment they have been given to review evidence in the case. On Wednesday they had indicated in a note that they did not have the necessary password to run a laptop computer.

In the indictment, the Chicago Outfit is accused of using threats, violence and intimidation to discipline members and associates -- and also to collect street tax and juice loan debts.

Update today: Deliberations are scheduled to resume Monday in the Family Secrets mob conspiracy trial after jurors completed a third day of discussions Thursday without reaching a verdict.