Lumpkin jury hearing Cobb murder case deliberating

MARIETTA - There was a delay Tuesday in the start of closing arguments in a Cobb County murder trial being heard by jurors from Lumpkin County.

But, the jury has since begun deliberations.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that court officials spent part of the day questioning the twelve jurors and three alternates about a phone that was taken from a hotel room where their phone calls are monitored.

The jury which was picked in Dahlonega two weeks ago because of a change-in-venue is being sequestered in Marietta during the death penalty trial of Michael Buttram.

Three jurors reportedly admitted taking the phone as a prank, but hotel records indicate a call was made on the phone from one of the juror's rooms, prompting an all-out inquiry by the court.