Libby jury resumes deliberations after question

WASHINGTON, Mar 6 (Reuters) A jury resumed deliberations in the perjury trial of former vice presidential aide Lewis ''Scooter'' Libby after the judge declined to answer their question about the burden of proof needed to find him guilty.

The jury of seven women and four men asked Judge Reggie Walton on Friday to clarify whether they must conclude that it would not be ''humanly possible'' for Libby to forget certain conversations in order to convict him of obstructing and lying to investigators.

US law requires prosecutors to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Walton said he would not answer the question because it was too vague.

'''Humanly possible' is just a nebulous term, and I don't know exactly what it means,'' Walton told lawyers involved in the case yesterday.

Libby, Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff, is charged with obstructing an investigation into who leaked a CIA analyst's identity in 2003 after her husband accused the Bush administration of manipulating intelligence to build its case for the Iraq war.

Libby faces five charges: two counts of perjury, two counts of making false statements and one count of obstruction of justice. He faces up to 30 years in prison and 1.25 million dollars in fines if found guilty.

The jury has been deliberating since the trial concluded on February 21.

Libby's attorneys argued he could not accurately recall conversations about Plame when he spoke months later to the FBI and testified before a grand jury.

No one has been charged with intentionally identifying Plame, the wife of former ambassador Joseph Wilson.

Reuters SRS VP0435