Jury deliberations continue in Jeff Pyne murder trial

(WXYZ) - A jury of eight women and four men will resume deliberations Tuesday morning in the trial of 21-year-old Jeffrey Pyne.

He's charged with first degree premeditated murder in the death of his mother Ruth Pyne. She was found beaten and stabbed to death in the garage of the family home in Highland Township May of last year.

Jurors on Friday during the first day of deliberations asked Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Leo Bowman for photo exhibits from the trial including blisters on Jeff's hands and the home.

Jurors also wanted a 2 x 4 piece of wood, but a murder weapon was never found. The judge told jurors no wood was in evidence and he cautioned them that they could not conduct experiments during deliberations.

No direct evidence ties Jeff to the murder. There was no break in or theft at the home and Jeff lied about where he was. The defense presented no witnesses. The defense attorney told the jury the blisters were from Jeff's job and the prosecutor did not prove this circumstantial case beyond a reasonable doubt.

Jurors have three options for their verdict: first degree murder which is automatic life in prison, second degree murder any number of years up to the judge or not guilty.

The jury verdict must be unanimous. A deadlocked jury would cause a mistrial.