BLADES FOUND GUILTY OF MANSLAUGHTER.

Byline: Charlie Nobles N.Y. Times News Service

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Brian Blades was found guilty of manslaughter Friday in the shooting death of his cousin and faces up to nine and a half years in prison.

The six-member jury deliberated for six hours Thursday and Friday before delivering the verdict, which surprised many, including Blades, who slumped in his chair.

``This is absolutely the most shocking verdict I've ever had,'' said Fred Haddad, one of Blades' lawyers. The defense argued that the death of Charles Blades last July 5 during a struggle over a handgun was accidental.

In an unusual development, Judge Susan Lebow of Broward County Circuit Court told prosecutors and defense attorneys that an unnamed juror approached her after the verdict was announced and said she was not comfortable with her vote to convict, despite having been polled after the verdict was read.

``We're not clear exactly what the words were, but they indicated that the juror wanted to change the verdict,'' said Bruce Zimet, Blades' other lawyer.

The defense is likely to make a mistrial motion over the juror's comments to the judge. Haddad said the juror likely will be interviewed, to see if there is evidence of misconduct by other jurors. Lebow will hear motions for acquittal or mistrial Monday.

Blades, 30, remained free on $10,000 bond.

The death of Charles Blades from a single gunshot wound occurred in Brian Blades' Plantation, Fla., condominium when Charles tried to keep Brian from grabbing a semi-automatic handgun. The prosecution argued that Brian Blades was culpably negligent in his handling of the gun.

Brian Blades, who last season became only the second Seattle receiver to reach 1,000 receiving yards in one season, had sought to intervene in an argument between his younger brother Bennie, a Detroit Lions safety, and Bennie's former girlfriend, Carol Jamerson.

The defense decided to end the trial early and called no witnesses. Blades' lawyers had felt that prosecutor Peter Magrino made a crucial mistake Wednesday when, during a scuffle staged to prove to the jury how difficult the death weapon was to shoot, Magrino jerked on it and it fired - which seemed to support the defense argument that Charles Blades was shot accidentally.

In his closing argument, Magrino tried to recoup by saying: ``If you have your finger on the trigger, it will unintentionally discharge. If your finger is not on the trigger, it isn't going to happen.''

Seahawks coach Dennis Erickson seemed guardedly hopeful that the verdict might be reversed Monday.

``Our concern is more for Brian than anything else,'' Erickson said by telephone from Seattle.

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Photo

Photo: Seattle Seahawks receiver Brian Blades hugs his daug hter Brittany after being convicted in the shooting death of his cousin, Charles Blades.

Associated Press