The latest news from the trial of former horse owner David Brooks continues to be about the state of the jury. It has been reported that on Friday, September 3, U.S. District Judge Joanna Seybert dismissed a

pregnant juror and considered dismissing two other jurors on the 12-member panel.

Newsday has reported that the pregnant juror -- who was due to give birth in five weeks -- told Seybert that she could not go on because she was getting contractions. The juror was quoted as saying, "I'm really uncomfortable, I should get my rest ... It's really hard." She had previously been quoted as saying that she did "not want to go into labour prematurely."

In regard to the other two jurors that Seybert is considering replacing, the Newsday report states that one of the jurors often came in late and the other has to serve a three-day jail sentence later this month for a minor offense.

If the jurors are to be replaced, jury deliberations would have to start all over again.

The report also states that one of Brooks' defense attorneys said in open court that the first alternate juror -- who might be seated to replace the pregnant juror -- had a personal "relationship" with a person already on the jury. The relationship apparently developed while the two were serving on the Brooks case.

Brooks is currently on trial for allegedly illegally inflating the worth of the body armor business (DHB Industries) before he sold stock to the tune of $190 million. He is also alleged to have illegally siphoned off company funds to pay for personal expenses, including, at least in some part, his horse racing interests.

(With files from Newsday)

Related Stories

• Brooks Found With Pills In Courtroom
• Psychiatrist: Brooks Needs Ativan
• Brooks' Affinity For Pens