ON THE RECORD

Cop’s Lawyers Allege Juror Misconduct

Argues Liang juror lied to court about family’s criminal past.

Lawyers for former NYPD officer Peter Liang, who was convicted of manslaughter in the fatal shooting of an unarmed Brooklyn man, have asked a judge to throw out the verdict over allegations of jury misconduct, according to a motion filed Tuesday. Liang’s lawyers argued that juror Michael Vargas lied during jury selection about his family’s criminal past. A New York Daily News report last month quoted an unnamed juror, later identified as Vargas, criticizing the decision to recommend probation over jail time for Liang, who was convicted in the death of Akai Gurley. The juror was quoted as saying his own father went to prison for accidentally shooting a friend, but Liang’s lawyers argue Vargas told the court that none of his close relatives had been convicted of a crime. Vargas responded that he had not lied to the court because he was estranged from his father.