The jury in the trial of Chris Huhne's ex-wife Vicky Pryce for perverting the course of justice has today been told it can reach a majority verdict.
The panel of eight women and four men at Southwark Crown Court, which has been deliberating for nearly 14 hours, was told by Mr Justice Sweeney that they can reach a verdict on which at least 10 of them agree.
Pryce, 60, admits taking speeding points for former Cabinet minister Huhne a decade ago but pleads not guilty on the grounds of marital coercion, saying he forced her.
Her ex-husband is facing jail after pleaded guilty to the offence on the first day of their trial.
The offence dates back to 2003 when Huhne's BMW was clocked speeding on the way back from Stansted Airport.
Pryce told the court he forced her to take the points to avoid losing his licence.
The alleged offence became public in May 2011, after Huhne left Pryce for PR adviser Carina Trimingham in 2010, ending their marriage.
The court heard it was Pryce, of Crescent Grove, Clapham, south London, who revealed the story to newspapers.
Huhne, 58, stepped down from the Cabinet to fight the charges but changed his plea on the first day of trial.