Tyco mistrial just minutes before verdict Judge's ruling follows letter, phone call to controversial juror

NEW YORK -- With the jury close to reaching a verdict, a judgedeclared a mistrial in the grand-larceny case against two former Tycoexecutives Friday after a juror apparently received an intimidatingletter and phone call for supposedly siding with the defense.

Judge Michael Obus aborted the trial after six months, citingintense pressure on juror No. 4, Ruth B. Jordan. "It is certainly ashame that this has to be done at this time," the judge told jurors.

Prosecutors said they would quickly seek a retrial against formerTyco International chief executive L. Dennis Kozlowski and formerchief financial officer Mark Swartz, who were accused of looting thecompany of $600 …