Jury Still Undecided in Trial of Man Charged in Triple Murder
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SANTA ANA — Jurors who earlier in the week hinted at possible deadlock in the retrial of a biker gang leader accused of triple murder went home for the weekend without reaching a verdict.
The jury in Orange County’s longest-running criminal case has been deliberating the fate of Thomas Maniscalco, 48, since Feb. 7. On Wednesday, they indicated they were having trouble reaching a verdict. The Orange County Superior Court judge ordered them to resume deliberations.
They are expected back Monday morning.
Jurors in Maniscalco’s first trial deliberated 26 days in 1990 before concluding they were hopelessly deadlocked. Maniscalco is accused of masterminding the slayings of Richard (Rabbit) Rizzone, 36; Rizzone’s bodyguard, Thomas Monahan, 28; and Rizzone’s girlfriend, Rena Miley, 19, on Memorial Day, 1980, at Rizzone’s home in Westminster. Miley also was raped.
Maniscalco, a lawyer who had a law practice in Orange County before his arrest in 1984, has denied the charges and said he is being framed for crimes he did not commit. Maniscalco has been in the Orange County Men’s Jail longer than any other inmate.
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