So I took the latest from Oracle

Apache Maven 3.0.4 (r1232337; 2012-01-17 09:44:56+0100)
Maven home: /usr/local/Cellar/maven/3.0.4/libexec
Java version: 1.7.0_06, vendor: Oracle Corporation
Java home: /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk1.7.0_06.jdk/Contents/Home/jre
Default locale: en_US, platform encoding: UTF-8
OS name: "mac os x", version: "10.7.4", arch: "x86_64", family: "mac"

and reproduced. Note that I use 1.7.0_6 and not _5. Can you try and get the latest and install it. Make sure ot backup your precious _5 though

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