A mistrial was declared in the lawsuit against Gizmondo executive Stefan Eriksson.
The case against Stefan Eriksson, the former head of the bankrupt game hardware manufacturer Gizmondo, has been declared a mistrial by Judge Patricia Schnegg. Following a week-long trial, the California jury split the decision 10 to 2 in favor of convicting Eriksson for two counts of grand theft auto and fraudulent concealment with intent to defraud on the payments for his Enzo Ferrari and Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren. The luxury sports cars are suspected to have been illegally imported from England.
Eriksson plead not guilty to his grand theft charges in May, 2006, but did not challenge allegations that he was driving drunk when he crashed a Ferrari on February 21st at 162 mph. The case against him involving his illegal possession of a .357-Magnum handgun found in his home has yet to be taken to court. Following the collapse of Gizmondo, Stefan Eriksson ceased payments on his cars, but claims these actions were not in an attempt to steal the vehicles.
Jim Parkman, Eriksson’s lead attorney, says that Eriksson was not disappointed with the mistrial. Parkman divulged, “His indication was that he was in very good spirits.” Los Angeles County District Attorney spokeswoman Jane Robison confirmed that the prosecution intends to retry the case and will soon begin the jury selection process.
Source: ABCNews
Published: Nov 7, 2006 01:05 pm