Blades Convicted, but Juror Requests Change

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. —  Seattle Seahawk receiver Brian Blades could face up to 10 years in prison after he was convicted of manslaughter Friday in the shooting death of his cousin.

Less than an hour after the verdict, however, Circuit Judge Susan Lebow told prosecutors and defense lawyers that a juror had come forward wanting to change her vote.

Motions for acquittal or mistrial, including one defense attorneys had planned to file Friday over the juror’s request, will be heard Monday by Lebow.

Blades, who claimed the death was an accident, showed no emotion as the verdict of the six-member jury was announced. Charles Blades, 34, was killed when he tried to defuse an argument between brothers Brian and Bennie in the early morning hours of July 5, 1995.

Blades did not comment when he walked out of the Broward County courtroom with an entourage that included Bennie Blades, a Detroit Lion free safety, and other family members.

His attorneys described their client as “disappointed.”

“Brian was very surprised,” said his agent, Drew Rosenhaus. “He was confident that he would be acquitted. But he’s strong. He’s hanging in there.”

Blades, 30, remained free on $10,000 bond.

The motion based on the juror’s apparent change of mind would seek “to have the juror come in to have a hearing, as well as to ask for a mistrial--based on the fact that the verdict returned was not a unanimous verdict,” said Bruce Zimet, Blades’ attorney.

Details on the conversation between the judge and the juror were not made public.