Judge will accept majority verdict in axe death case
The judge in the Jan Charlton murder trial says the jury can return a majority verdict.
The jury in the trial of the former escort girl accused of murdering her wealthy lover with an axe has begun its third day of deliberations.
Charlton, 36, has admitted killing businessman Danny O'Brien but denies murdering him.
Mr O'Brien, 40, was found with the axe embedded in his head, lying naked, gagged, blindfolded and handcuffed at the house he shared with Charlton in Midgley, Wakefield, on May 23 last year.
He had been hit more than 20 times.
The prosecution alleges that Charlton killed Mr O'Brien in revenge because he intended to end their relationship and return to a former girlfriend.
Charlton claims she acted in self-defence after Mr O'Brien threatened to kill her and abuse and kill her three-year-old daughter Amy.
The jury at Leeds Crown Court has also been asked to consider the issue of provocation.
Story filed: 10:12 Friday 24th May 2002