All the way through the trial and into deliberations before a juror comes forward with a conflict? Not noted during jury selection? No alternate jurors? Sounds like a fix to me .... see how the jury is leaning and if it looks bad for the prosecution then mistrial it. Keep doing it until they plea bargain.
I don't believe it was the juror that came forward. I think he mouthed off about his associations to the other jurors and they complained about him. They could not remove him and replace him with an alternate.
https://www.tdcaa.com/journal/what-do-about-disabled-juror
A juror merely knowing the defendant does not constitute a disability.12 For that matter, neither does a juror’s bias or prejudice for or against a defendant.13 Either of these things can ultimately make the juror disabled, but what is critical is not the existence of knowledge of a defendant or prejudice for or against a defendant, but rather the effect these things have on the juror—whether they inhibit him from fully and fairly performing the functions of a juror.
It was noted on the jury questionnaire
No alternate jurors?
There were two. No juror was disqualified. Are you sad the defendant wasn't railroaded?