& # 39; El Chapo & # 39; Guzman will request a new trial for alleged jury misconduct



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The lawyer Eduardo Balarezo in a letter on Friday informed US District Judge Brian Cogan of the defense team's intention to file a motion for a new trial. He quoted a Vice News report this week quoting an unnamed juror as saying that several members of the committee were following media accounts despite the judge's instructions to "stay away" from coverage. CNN has not confirmed the Vice report.

"Mr. Guzmán intends to file a motion for a new trial on the basis of revelations contained in the article and to request a hearing of the evidence in order to determine the extent of the case. misconduct, "wrote Balarezo.

Later on Friday, Judge Cogan granted Balarezo's request for an extension to be able to file a motion for a new trial. The defense team has until March 28 to file the motion, ordered the judge.

The US Attorney's Office in Brooklyn declined to comment.

The partially sequestered and anonymous jury of eight women and four men deliberated for about 34 hours over six days. For two and a half months, they witnessed 200 hours of testimony from 56 prosecution witnesses. Only one witness testified for the defense.

After confirming the verdicts with each juror, Cogan told them that their behavior within the committee "made me very proud to be an American".

Balarezo said in a statement: "It is true that many jurors follow media information, have access to information that they should not have had, what should happen," he said. Is that we have a new trial because Joaquin has not had a fair trial. "

The defense asked Cogan 30 days to prepare his motion for a new trial.

Guzmán, 61, has been convicted of 10 counts including involvement in a criminal enterprise, conspiracy to launder the proceeds of narcotics, international distribution of cocaine, drug trafficking, drug trafficking and drug trafficking. heroin, marijuana and other drugs, and the use of firearms.

He faces life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for directing a continuing criminal enterprise, and up to life imprisonment for the remaining drug account.

Maria Santana and Tony Marco from CNN contributed to this report.

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