The swindler son of Brooke Astor filed papers in court today asking for a new trial following a shocking sworn statement by a juror claiming she was coerced into a guilty verdict.
Judi DeMarco was juror number eight in the 2009 trial of Anthony Marshall, 89 and attorney Francis Morrissey, who were convicted of trying to steal $60 million from the society doyenne.
JUROR RECANTS GUILTY VERDICT IN TRIAL OF BROOKE ASTOR’S SON ANTHONY MARSHALL
“Ms. DeMarco, herself a lawyer, has made clear that defendants were denied their right to a trial by a fair and impartial jury, because she has bravely acknowledged that her verdict was not fairly and impartially given,” the motion to toss the conviction reads.
It was submitted by Morrissey’s attorney, William Zabel, in Manhattan Supreme Court this morning.
“Her verdict was a product of fear, and such a verdict cannot stand,” the motion says.
Zabel is also asking a judge to delay the surrender date of the two defendants, scheduled for Monday.
“I guess I have some homework to do,” Justice A. Kirke Bartley said in a meeting today as he took the papers from Zabel.
Marshall is facing up to three years in prison for the fraud.