Partial verdict reached on Castroneves trial

UPDATE The verdicts were not revealed before the jury went home for the day. Jurors are scheduled to return Friday to resume deliberations.

04/16/09 A federal jury on Thursday said it reached a unanimous verdict on two tax-evasion counts against Indy 500 champ Helio Castroneves and deadlocked on five others — including the leading conspiracy charge against the Brazilian race car star.

The Miami jury also said it reached a unanimous verdict on one charge against the driver's sister/manager, Katiucia Castroneves, but deadlocked on the other six.

The panel said it reached a unanimous verdict on four counts against Castroneves' sports lawyer, Alan R. Miller, including the main conspiracy charge. Miller was not charged in the three other tax-evasion counts in the indictment. His verdict form was placed in a sealed envelope.

U.S. District Judge Donald Graham ordered the 12-member jury to continue deliberating in the $5.5 million tax-evasion case, giving them a so-called ''Allen'' charge urging them to find common ground on the deadlocked counts.

The prosecution supported the judge's charge to the jury, and the defense opposed it. Castroneves and his sister embraced after the jury delivered the partial verdict, amid a packed courtroom of relatives, friends and media. Jurors have taken a lunch break and will resume deliberations Thursday afternoon. MiamiHerald.com