The jury in the trial of truck driver Robert Crockford on dangerous driving charges says it is unable to reach a unanimous verdict after deliberating for more than half the week, prompting Judge Nanette Williams to direct them to return to the task on Monday.
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The panel of 12 men and women sent a note to Dubbo District Court shortly before 3.45pm on Friday advising they had been unable to reach a unanimous verdict.
Judge Williams told the jury members she had the power to discharge them but would only do so if satisfied there was no likelihood of agreement being reached after further deliberations.
Experience had shown jurors could often agree if given more time to consider the evidence, she said.
Judge Williams said she was going to ask the jurors to come back on Monday and continue their deliberations.
She told the jury she knew it had been a long week.
"I suggest you go about your business and come back refreshed on Monday to continue," she said before wishing them a "pleasant weekend".
The jury panel of seven women and five men are deciding the fate of Mr Crockford, 52 of Queensland.
He was charged over a seven-vehicle crash at roadworks on the Newell Highway, in which Gulargambone's Hannah Ferguson, 19, and boyfriend Reagen Skinner, 21, died.
Mr Crockford is also facing three charges of dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm and seven charges of causing bodily harm.
The jury retired to consider its verdicts on Tuesday afternoon and was locked away all of Wednesday and Thursday, as well as Friday afternoon.
The families of the victims were in court when Judge Williams read out the note from the jury and gave it the directions to resume deliberations on Monday.
More than 25 witnesses were called by the Crown in the trial that started on March 4.