(AP) - Jurors said Thursday they cannot reacha verdict in the murder case of a 68-year-old man who confessedthree times to killing his wife and burning her body.

The judge told them to keep trying.

The seven women and five men on the Westchester County Courtjury sent out a deadlock note Thursday night, after three days ofdeliberating the fate of Werner Lippe, a wealthy jeweler fromCortlandt.

"After numerous ballots this jury is unable to come to aunanimous decision," the note said. It did not disclose how manyfavored conviction.

The trial took nearly three weeks and included some grislytestimony, included Lippe's recorded confessions to police and to afriend about killing his wife Faith, 49, and incinerating her in anoil drum.

"I hit her in the head with a piece of wood," Lippe said onone tape. "I dumped her in the barrel and burned her."

But Lippe recanted his confessions, claiming they were theresult of harassment. And the prosecution had no forensic evidence.Faith's body was never found and no trace of her or her DNA wasdetected around the Lippes' suburban home.

Judge Barbara Zambelli told the jurors to quit for the night,resume deliberations Friday morning with an "open mind" and tryto reach agreement.

"Make every effort consistent with your conscience," the judgesaid.