SANTA MARIA, Calif. – The Michael Jackson (search) trial judge was overruled by the jury Tuesday when they extended their 10-minute snack break because of an unexpected bonanza: free pizza.
Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville (search) has been running an unusually rigid schedule with no lunch hour, just three quick snack breaks during six hours of testimony — a hunger-inducing regimen he calls "the Melville diet."
When jurors took an extra 15 minutes getting back into their seats, he offered an explanation.
"The Olive Garden (search) heard a CNN report that the jurors were starving to death," he announced. "So they sent over a bunch of pizzas."
He said the jury "sent out an attack squadron" with word that they wanted time to eat their pizzas. "So now they're full," he said.
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