An arrest warrant was issued Wednesday for a Hamilton County juror who failed to return to continue deliberations in the trial of a woman accused of helping kill a man.

        Christine Fiorini was supposed to resume deliberations with the other 11 jurors Tuesday, but the 33-year-old Colerain Township woman did not show up as ordered. Monday was President's Day and courts were closed.

Fiorini

        Jury Commissioner Fritz Meyer said his office received a call Tuesday from a woman who said she was Ms. Fiorini's mother. The woman said Ms. Fiorini would not be in for service because she was going out of town.

        Ms. Fiorini's absence could cause a mistrial in the case of Dorie Terrell, a 23-year-old English Woods woman accused of helping to kill Ibrahima Sory Diallo on Sept. 3.

        Ms. Fiorini's disappearance could land her in jail for as much as six months on a contempt of court charge.

        Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Robert Ruehlman said Wednesday he was at a loss as to how to proceed, since he'd never had anything like this happen before.

        On Friday, when jurors began their deliberations, he dismissed the only alternate juror.

        Alternates are not allowed to continue once deliberations begin.

        “No one at that time said they would be unable to continue deliberations,” the judge said.

        Ms. Fiorini allegedly told another juror Friday that she had plans for a vacation. When Judge Ruehlman told jurors Friday that he'd “see them Tuesday” Ms. Fiorini reportedly leaned toward another juror and whispered “Yeah, right,” officials said.

        Allegations of witness intimidation have been made during the Terrell trial, which started Feb. 11. Court officials at first were worried that maybe Ms. Fiorini had been threatened.

        She hadn't been located as of Wednesday afternoon and Judge Ruehlman had not declared a mistrial.

        There have been instances where 11 jurors have deliberated in a case.

        In August 2000, an 11-member jury in the court of Common Pleas Judge Mark Schweikert convicted Marcus Wilson of aggravated murder in the shooting death of Chris Parks.

        Jurors had started their deliberations when the 12th juror was removed because she'd been approached by someone related to the defendant.

        Opposing attorneys in that case agreed to allow the remaining 11 jurors to continue their deliberations.

        Mr. Wilson was sentenced to life in prison. His case is being appealed.

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