June 18, 2013

Jury dismissed for wife of disgraced UK minister

BY: AP Staff Writer FEBRUARY 20, 2013 | MODIFIED: FEBRUARY 20, 2013 AT 11:17 AM
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Photo -   Vicky Pryce arrives at Southwark Crown Court, south London, Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013. A British jury has been dismissed after failing to reach a verdict in the trial of Pryce, the ex-wife of a former U.K. cabinet minister who resigned after lying for years about a speeding ticket. Pryce had pleaded not guilty to the charge of obstruction of justice for taking the fall for a speeding penalty for her then-husband, Chris Huhne, in 2003. (AP Photo/PA, Sean Dempsey) UNITED KINGDOM OUT, NO SALES, NO ARCHIVE
Vicky Pryce arrives at Southwark Crown Court, south London, Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013. A British jury has been dismissed after failing to reach a verdict in the trial of Pryce, the ex-wife of a former U.K. cabinet minister who resigned after lying for years about a speeding ticket. Pryce had pleaded not guilty to the charge of obstruction of justice for taking the fall for a speeding penalty for her then-husband, Chris Huhne, in 2003. (AP Photo/PA, Sean Dempsey) UNITED KINGDOM OUT, NO SALES, NO ARCHIVE

LONDON (AP) — A British jury was dismissed Wednesday after failing to reach a verdict in the trial of Vicky Pryce, the ex-wife of a former U.K. cabinet minister who resigned after lying for years about a speeding ticket.

Pryce had pleaded not guilty to obstructing justice for taking the penalty for a speeding violation by her then-husband, Chris Huhne, in 2003. She claims he coerced her.

Huhne — who had repeatedly denied wrongdoing — entered a last-minute guilty plea to the same charge just before his trial was due to start earlier this month. The case shattered his political career: he resigned as a U.K. lawmaker the same day he pleaded guilty.

The judge in Pryce's trial at London's Southwark Crown Court discharged the jury Wednesday after jurors said it was "highly unlikely" they could reach even a majority verdict.

Pryce, an economist who has worked as a senior adviser in both the private sector and in government, will now face a retrial, expected to start Monday.

The details of her case riveted Britain, as deeply personal and embarrassing revelations about the powerful couple's 25-year marriage emerged.

Pryce and Huhne split in 2010 after his affair with his public relations adviser was revealed.

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