Wright convicted of most serious charge; acquitted on others

11 a.m.

Verdict: Chris Wright, Ravinder Chawla and Andrew Teitelman guilty of conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, the most serious charge against them, though they are acquitted of many of the 14 counts. Hardeep Chawla acquitted on all counts, including the $1,000 check he gave to Wright.

10:10 a.m.

The jury has a verdict. The lawyers have to arrive, so they will not announce it for another 15-30 minutes at least.

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Jurors returned Tuesday morning for a sixth day of deliberations in the corruption trial of City Council aide Christopher Wright and three businessmen accused of bribing him.

Developer Hardeep Chawla and Ravinder Chawla, and their corporate attorney, Andrew Teitelman, are charged along with Wright in an alleged conspiracy to buy Wright's services in City Hall. The Chawla brothers and Teitelman gave Wright $1,000, arranged for him to stay in a Rittenhouse Square apartment rent-free, and provided free legal work to Wright, while at the same time going to him for help with tax bills, legislation and city land deals.

Wright, chief of staff to Republican Councilman Jack Kelly, said he did no more than what his boss wanted him to do -- the Chawlas were among Kelly's chief financial supporters, and Teitelman doubled as Kelly's campaign treasurer. The Chawlas and Teitelman said whatever they did for Wright was done out of friendship.

Attorneys in the case and Judge Eduardo C. Robreno seem puzzled by the jury's difficulty in coming to a verdict. The jury indicated last week that it had reached verdicts on more than half of the 38 charges, but was trying to work through a deadlock on the others.

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