Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
"Threats" Against Juror May Form Astor Verdict Appeal
By
Jen Chung
Published Feb 22, 2010
Modified Feb 22, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Feb 22, 2010
Modified Feb 22, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
The verdict from the five month long Astor trial last year may be challenged by the defense, as the NY Times reports, "A holdout juror...has told defense lawyers that she voted to convict him and an estate lawyer for crimes she did not believe they committed out of fear for her safety." Why was she so scared? Because another juror allegedly flashed gang signs at her!
Anthony Marshall, the son of late philanthropist Brooke Astor, was found guilty of grand larceny by swindling millions from his mother's estate while she was still alive. During deliberations, juror Judith DeMarco, a legal analyst for Bloomberg News, asked to be dismissed from the jury, fearing for her personal safety, but eventually stayed on the jury. She later told Bloomberg News, "I had trouble getting over my reasonable doubt and I struggled with it. I did ultimately what I felt was the right thing... As much as I wanted to find the man innocent, this was a criminal case and there were mounds and mounds of evidence."
Now DeMarco has told the defense that she thought fellow juror Yvonne Fernandez was flashing gang signs at her—Fernandez had said earlier she dated a member of the Latin Kings—and, "None of the jurors were willing to give either of these defendants a shot in that jury room. I held out as long as I could." She also shared dozens of e-mails the jurors sent each other: The Times describes, "In the e-mail messages among the jurors, they discuss how they should all play down the confrontation between Ms. Fernandez and Ms. DeMarco" when talking to the media. After the trial ended, Fernandez told the media that she had apologized to DeMarco," but DeMarco had emailed the group, "I only once said I felt threatened — AND I DID."
Tagged
Anthony Marshall
Astor trial
Brooke Astor
Judith DeMarco
juror
jury
threat
trial
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Queens mother charged with murdering her son after failed suicide attempt, NYPD says
Sukken Wong, 62, allegedly stabbed her nonverbal son, Byran Wong, 25, to death.
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Published Oct 23, 2026 at 8:01 a.m. ET
Your guide to voting in New York's 2026 elections for governor and Congress
A primer on the races for governor, attorney general and the congressional districts that could help determine control of the U.S. House.
By
Walter Wuthmann
,
Jon Campbell
and
Brigid Bergin
News
Your guide to voting in New York's 2026 elections for governor and Congress
A primer on the races for governor, attorney general and the congressional districts that could help determine control of the U.S. House.
By
Walter Wuthmann
,
Jon Campbell
and
Brigid Bergin
Forest Hills Stadium can keep its concerts under deal with neighbors
By
Ryan Kost
NYC Council to grill Mamdani officials on collapsed Hunts Point Produce Market deal
By
Elizabeth Kim
NYPD arrests 17-year-old in fatal Midtown subway platform shooting
By
Charles Lane
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .