Redwood City, Calif. ? Bedraggled by three and a half days of sequestered deliberations, jurors considering whether Scott Peterson killed his wife and unborn son appeared Monday to be at an impasse.

In a wild day of deliberations, the judge also denied a motion for a mistrial after a defense lawyer accused jurors of taking their examination of Peterson’s fishing boat too far.

While there was no official word of a deadlock, Judge Alfred Delucchi brought jurors back into the courtroom in the morning to remind them of their lengthy commitment while urging them to push ahead with talks.

“Do not hesitate to change an opinion if you are convinced it is wrong,” Delucchi said. “The attitude and conduct of jurors at all times is very important. It is rarely helpful for a juror at the beginning of deliberations to express an em-phatic opinion on the case or to announce a determination to stand for the certain verdict.”

Appearing tired, jurors filed out of the courtroom. Juror 11, an accountant, offered heavy sighs and a shaking head. Juror 7 shot a long glance toward the defense table as she walked out. A normally tidy Juror 5 seemed exhausted and unkempt.

But Juror 8 was alone in his intense stare at the judge. The man was spotted a short time later near DeLucchi in a back hallway outside his chambers, sparking some speculation that he was an unwilling holdout.

If jurors are divided, there was nothing to indicate which side held a majority. Delucchi told the panel of six men and six women not to share the specifics of their split.