Bombing Trial Jury Deliberates For 6 Hours

Jurors in Spokane’s bombing trial deliberated for six hours Friday before breaking for the weekend.

The 12 U.S. District Court jurors and four alternates are expected to resume deliberations Monday.

Sandpoint residents Verne Jay Merrell, 51, Robert Charles Barbee, 45, and Robert S. Berry, 42, are charged with 12 felony counts stemming from bombings and robberies in the Spokane Valley last April and July and their arrest in October.

Prosecutors contend the white separatists dropped pipe bombs at Valley offices of The SpokesmanReview, Planned Parenthood and U.S. Bank and twice robbed the bank.

Notes making reference to religious, anti-government beliefs were found at the crime scenes.

Prosecutors believe the men were planning another act of domestic terrorism at a Portland bank shortly before they were arrested Oct. 8.

Defense attorneys admit their clients are guilty of four of the charges stemming from their arrest. The trio was caught in two stolen vehicles carrying illegal machine guns and pipe bombs.

But defense attorneys contend other men who share their clients’ beliefs committed the bombings and robberies.

The three-week trial included more than 500 exhibits and testimony from 95 witnesses.

Barbee, Berry and Merrell face mandatory life sentences and up to $3 million in fines if convicted of all charges.

, DataTimes