Jury Enters Another Day of Deliberations in Fujita Murder Trial

Jurors this morning will return to the task of deliberating a verdict in the trial of Nathaniel Fujita, the now 20-year-old Wayland man accused of murdering 18-year-old Lauren Astley in July 2011.

The jury has the option of finding Fujita guilty of first- or second-degree murder, not guilty by reason of lack of criminal responsibility, or not guilty of the crimes at all, according to instructions issued by Judge Peter Lauriat.

The decision was put in the hands of jurors at about 3:45 p.m. Tuesday afternoon. That day, the panel of eight men and four women elected a foreperson, but disbanded for the day just 15 minutes later.

Wednesday, the jurors retired to deliberate at about 9:30 a.m. and informed Lauriat at 3:30 p.m. that they were ready to end for the day.

Throughout the course of their deliberations, jurors will have the testimony of 33 witnesses -- 31 for the prosecution and two for the defense -- to consider as well as about 240 pieces of evidence catelogued during the trial. There is no written transcript of the trial available to jurors, but they did have the option to take their own notes.