When jurors are discharged during deliberations, the safest course is usually to tell the remaining jury only that it has become necessary to discharge the jurors and to direct them not to speculate, rather than providing a partial explanation of the circumstances. A partial explanation that identifies a party's connection to the incident but withholds the details creates a real risk that the jury will speculate that serious impropriety occurred. If any explanation is given, it must be comprehensive and accurate, or it risks engendering prejudice.
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