Enron: It's never over

By now, we've all heard a lot (and a lot of the same) about yesterday's Enron verdict — and all this, of course, is only the beginning as we enter four months of speculation about Ken Lay and Jeff Skilling's sentencing and the appeals the ex-execs are certain to file. But in the meantime, there's still some wrapping up to do from yesterday, beginning with Lay and Skilling's reaction to their convictions on charges of insider trading, fraud and conspiracy.

Skilling was somewhat stoic about being found guilty on 19 of 28 charges against him, summing things up with a quick "some things work, some things don't." Lay was a little more wordy, calling on the man upstairs:

"Certainly we're surprised, more appropriately to say we're shocked ... I firmly believe I'm innocent of the charges against me," said Lay. He noted that he's still a blessed man because of his family and friends. "We believe God is in fact in control and indeed he does work all things for good for those who love the Lord."

Moments later, the former Enron chairman was struck by lightning.

Jurors said they admired Lay and Skilling as businessmen — an opinion Houstonist thinks is still surprisingly prevalent, especially in Houston — but they didn't believe the former executives' story that it was The Wall Street Journal, stock traders and ex-CFO Andy Fastow who brought Enron down. Plus, jurors said they felt some sort of obligation to the former Enron employees: "We were responsible. We were always accountable. We had to find a way to circle back and tie up loose ends. And I think those (Enron) employees were entitled to the same thing," juror Carolyn Kuchera said. (By the way, if you want to know who was on the jury, check out this nifty interactive image from The New York Times.)

As for the appeals, Skilling's lawyer Daniel Petrocelli has promised a "vigorous" attempt to overturn the court ruling — and, in the shorter term, to keep the government from taking what's left of Skilling's fortune through forfeiture proceedings. Skilling spent about $23 million on his legal team before the government froze $55 million of his assets, and that's what lawyers are going to try to save now. "It's no time for me to rest now," Petrocelli told the LA Times. "We've got to take care of his [Skilling's] interests first."