As a general rule, a trial judge should not take a verdict until any requests from the jury for direction have been answered as fully as possible. Where a jury note indicates uncertainty in the corporate state of mind of the jury, particularly on a matter of law, and the trial judge has foreshadowed giving further directions, failure to give those directions before taking the verdict constitutes a miscarriage of justice. The fact that a juror has been a victim of a crime, even of the type charged, does not automatically mean the juror cannot act impartially.
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