LAS VEGAS (Court TV) — The jury deciding the fate of Margaret Rudin stopped deliberations late Friday without reaching a verdict in the so-called Black Widow murder trial. They will continue weighing evidence Monday morning.

Rudin, a 57-year-old former socialite, faces life in prison if convicted of murdering her husband, Ron, in 1994 to get at his $11 million fortune. During the nine-week trial, Rudin maintained her innocence and her defense team told jurors that the real culprits were Ron Rudin's shady real estate associates.

Jurors deliberated for more than nine hours Friday, their second day of weighing evidence against Rudin, but failed to reach a verdict by the time they decided to call it a day — at 5:45 p.m. PT. The jury quietly discussed the case behind closed doors without asking to re-hear testimony or to be given guidance on the charges Rudin faces.

On Thursday afternoon, jurors sent notes to the judge indicating that some of them wanted to acquit Rudin of the least serious charge she faces, illegal eavesdropping.

Prosecutor Gary Guymon told jurors that a conviction on the charge was "elementary," and the defense admitted she used listening devices from a spy store to eavesdrop on her husband's conversations with several people, including his mistress. But in his closing argument, defense lawyer Tom Pitaro suggested Rudin should not be punished for what he described for trying to "save her marriage."

In the notes submitted to Judge Joseph Bonaventure Thursday, the panelists asked if they had to follow the law or could engage in what they termed "jury negation." The judge had scheduled an 11:30 a.m. hearing Friday to discuss the notes, but the jury subsequently told him that they no longer needed advice and were moving on to the second count — murder.

Rudin, awaiting a verdict in the jail adjoining the courthouse, told Court TV's Mary Jane Stevenson she had a "very, very strong feeling" the verdict would come Friday. Rudin will now have to wait at least through the weekend to learn her fate.