The trial of NYPD hero Jonathan Diller’s accused killer was thrown into chaos Wednesday when the jury foreman claimed the panel had acquitted the defendant of first-degree murder — and one of the jurors denied it to the judge.
Diller’s widow and mother let out gasps and wails in the Queens courtroom when the foreman announced an acquittal for suspect Guy Rivera on the top count.
Jonathan Diller’s widow Stephanie Diller seen crying after the verdict was read. Gregory P. Mango / pool
Guy Rivera reacting after the verdict was read by at his murder trial. Gregory P. Mango / poolThe jury had begun deliberating Rivera’s fate hours earlier and then entered the courtroom late in the afternoon, when the foreman told the judge they had reached a not-guilty verdict on the first-degree murder rap.
The jury had found Rivera guilty of the rest of the charges against him: aggravated manslaughter in the first degree, attempted murder in the first degree of Diller’s partner, and two weapons counts, the foreman said.
But when the court clerk then polled the jurors one by one to verify they agreed with the verdict, they all confirmed that was the case — till juror No. 5, who told the judge “no.”
Judge Michael Aloise ordered the jury back into deliberations.
“As I told you jurors, your verdict must be unanimous. Please go back in and deliberate.”
Diller’s family were shocked by the verdict — but the judge sent the jury back to deliberate after it was revealed that one juror did not agree with the acquittal on the first-degree murder charge. Gregory P. Mango / pool
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz watching on as the verdict was being read. Gregory P. Mango / poolA few minutes later, a pair of notes came in from the jury.
The first inquired how many days they would have to deliberate if they were unable to reach a verdict that day.
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The second was a personal request from juror No. 8 saying she needed to make a phone call to cancel an appointment.
Stephanie Diller, the widow of slain NYPD cop Jonathan Diller, is seen arriving at court ahead of Wednesday’s verdict. Gregory P. Mango for NY Post
Droves of NYPD cops are seen outside the court. Gregory P. Mango for NY Post
Guy Rivera, accused of killing NYPD cop Jonathan Diller on March 25, 2024, is seen in court on Wednesday. Gregory P. Mango / pool
NYPD hero Jonathan Diller.
Judge Aloise called them back in and told them, “There is no time limit, continue deliberating,” and sent them back to the jury room.
Rivera faces life in prison without parole on the top count alone.
He would face up to 90 years without parole if convicted on all four of the other counts, with a max of 40 years on the attempted-slay rap.
Prosecutors say Rivera, a career criminal with 21 prior busts, shot and killed Diller with a 380-caliber handgun during a traffic stop in Far Rockaway in March, 2024.
Diller, who was just 31, was scheduled to be off duty the day he was killed and was at a park with his wife, Stephanie, and young son when he was called in.
The widow teared up and covered her ears with her hands during closing arguments Tuesday as bodycam footage showed the moments the fatal shots that killed her husband rang out.
