I don't worry about a Durham jury convicting, because all won't vote to convict. But I can see one or two stubborn racist jurors holding out to purposefully cause a mistrial, and deny the white suspects an acquital.
Excellent point, GAgal.
We cannot know your jury make-up in advance, and while we want to think the jury will have several who will be stoppers, people do strange things when they are in the minority on a jury and they're getting outvoted. Especially if the case has racial overtones and half of the jurors are black.
Some jurors are weak and easily cave in. Some want to be liked. Some don't want to be thought racist by the black jury members or the community.
There is not one good reason to keep the case in Durham if you can move it. The defense needs the case moved, so that all the Durham politics that are hurting them will be neutralized. Moving the case to another venue is a no-brainer.