Mistrial Declared For Former Gizmondo Exec

After a week-long trial and a day of deliberations, a California jury has been deadlocked and a mistrial declared in the grand theft auto and fraud case of former Gizmondo executive Stefan Eriksson. The charges were first brought in April of this year, when it was reported that, following a high-profile Ferrari crash, Eriksson had been arraigned on felony charges of embezzlement, grand theft and possession of a gun by a felon, resulting from his importation to the U.S. of two of the Enzo Ferraris and a rare Mercedes worth an estimated $3.8 million, according to authorities. While the trial for the felony gun possession trial will be held separately and has yet to begin, Eriksson had already plead no contest to charges that he was driving drunk during the Ferrari crash. He maintained, though, that the autos were not stolen, but rather that he had simply ceased to make regular payments since the end of 2005 following the crash of Gizmondo. Jurors declared the trial deadlocked after deliberations ended with a vote of 10-2 in favor of convicting Eriksson on the grand theft charges, and presiding Judge Patricia Schnegg declared a mistrial. Los Angeles district attorney spokeswoman Jane Robison has commented that the prosecutors intend to re-try the case and will begin the jury selection process shortly.