Verdict in Edwards corruption trial

Jurors have reached a verdict in the campaign corruption trial of former US presidential candidate John Edwards.

The jury in Greensboro, North Carolina, has been deliberating for about nine days.

Edwards is accused of masterminding a plan to use money from wealthy donors to hide his pregnant mistress as he sought the White House in 2008.

Defence laywers say Edwards did not knowingly break campaign finance laws. They also say the payments to hide his mistress, Rielle Hunter, were gifts, not campaign contributions.

Edwards faces six charges, including conspiracy to violate the Federal Election Campaign Act, accepting contributions which exceeded limits and causing his campaign to file a false financial disclosure report.

He faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted of all charges.

It later emerged that the jury has reached a verdict on only one of the six counts, but is apparently deadlocked on the others.

The judge told the jury she understood that the panel had reached a verdict on all counts, and the jury foreman said no.

Prosecutors argued that the jury should keep deliberating and the defence asked for the verdict on the one count and a mistrial on the others.

The judge took a break to weigh up her options.