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April 4, 2008

Smoke-shop case: Jury due back for fourth day

PROVIDENCE -- The jurors deliberating the case against seven Narragansett Indians arrested during a state police raid on a tribal smoke shop are set to return to their duties today at 9:15 a.m.

Judge Susan E. McGuirl dismissed the jurors at 4 p.m. yesterday. The jury began deliberating Tuesday.

The seven defendants, including Chief Sachem Matthew Thomas, face 17 misdemeanor charges between them, including resisting arrest and simple assault after a scuffle broke out during the 2003 raid on their tribal, tax-free smoke shop.

The seven defendants face up to a year in prison, a $1,000 fine, or both. No one has been charged with selling untaxed cigarettes.

The judge and lawyers in the trial met in chambers for much of the morning, delaying the start of a third day of jury deliberations. McGuirl then gave the jurors instructions and urged them to listen and talk to each other, saying, "You need to keep your minds open."

Extra: More coverage of the trial, including photos and video of the 2003 raid and documents filed with the courts.

Posted by Brandie Jefferson  at 7:22 AM | Permalink

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