Smoke signals from the jury room

DADE CITY -- The attorneys in the Alfredie Steele Jr. murder trial were quickly summoned back to the courtroom at 4:55 p.m. A bailiff handed a note from the jury room to Senior Circuit Judge Robert Beach.

It read:

"We need a smoke break please."

"I've never had that asked," the judge said. "What's your pleasure, gentlemen?"

Both sides agreed to it. But the jurors were instructed not to discuss the case during their smoke break.

-- JAMAL THALJI