In the first full day of deliberations, the jury in the samurai sword murder trial of a Hauppauge man asked to rehear and review information critical to the case Wednesday.
Jurors deciding the fate of 20-year-old Zachary Gibian asked to once again examine the alleged murder weapon. The jury, which is evenly comprised of men and women, also requested to be reread the definition of reasonable doubt, a sign defense attorneys label positive. Gibian is accused of nearly beheading his stepfather Scott Nager in February 2005. Despite the defense's claim that Gibian's biological mother, Laura Nager, really wielded the sword, prosecutors believe the defendant lied on the stand in carefully designed acts of desperation.
If convicted, Gibian faces 25 years to life in prison. Deliberations are scheduled to continue Thursday.