NEW YORK (AP) ? A judge declared a mistrial Friday in the six-month case against two former Tyco International executives accused of looting the company of $600 million, citing intense outside pressure placed on one of the jurors.

A source, speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, said that Juror No. 4 ? a woman who had nearly brought the case to a mistrial last week ? had received a threatening or coercive letter within the past 24 hours.

The decision came on the 12th day of deliberations in the case against former chief executive L. Dennis Kozlowski and former chief financial officer Mark Swartz.

"It is certainly a shame that this has to be done at this time," state Supreme Court Justice Michael Obus told the jurors.

Juror No. 4 became the subject of intense media scrutiny last week after some news organisations reported she made an "OK" gesture toward the defence as she passed in front of lawyers.

The Wall Street Journal and the New York Post named the juror. The Post also ran a front-page sketch of her and called her "Ms. Trial" and "the batty blueblood".

Defence lawyers repeatedly asked for a mistrial, saying the juror ? an apparent holdout for acquittal ? was being pressured by the media and possibly by other jurors to change her vote.