Jury Service?? - Page 2

blazey · 17-01-2008, 23:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lilly

I would like to sit in on a high profile murder trial. I'm not interested in sitting in on a shoplifting or pub brawl case.

Unfortunately I was not born when Hindley and Brady were dealt with.

I was at school when the James Bulger trial took place.

I couldn't get the time off work to go to Preston to Harold Shipman's trial

It was too far and too expensive to get to the old Bailey for the Soham trial.

Should there be any more serious murder trials held at Preston I will go if I can.

So its just about being a high profile murder trial? Any particular reason?

Lilly · 17-01-2008, 23:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by blazey

So its just about being a high profile murder trial? Any particular reason?

I'd just like to see what goes on at these trials. How they are questioned, what questions are asked, what evidence is shown etc.

MargaretR · 17-01-2008, 23:27

One chap I worked with was forever being called - must have been 4 times that I remember -and once got excused because he knew the charged person.

harwood red · 17-01-2008, 23:28

Never been asked to sit on a jury and not sure if I would want to!!

have been to Burnley Crown court as a witness, and they showed me round the court, explained what I should expect when called etc...

Luckily both defendants pleaded guilty so never got to say my piece

blazey · 17-01-2008, 23:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lilly

I'd just like to see what goes on at these trials. How they are questioned, what questions are asked, what evidence is shown etc.

Well I believe some committee or other is trying to move towards trials being shown on television. Maybe some day in the near future you'll be able to watch without leaving the comfort of your own home

Gayle · 17-01-2008, 23:35

A girl I was at school with got called about two weeks after her 18th birthday. My Grandma did it once and my brother in law got called a few months back but I've never been called.

I've been told that it can be incredibly boring as there's a lot of waiting around, so if you do ever get called, take a couple of books with you!

katex · 17-01-2008, 23:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by katex

Was called for Jury service in 1982, was pregnant with my son and the Expected Day of Arrival was that week. I was excused, as suppose they didn't fancy me going into labour during a case ....

LOl .. just had a thought.. he was born the week before, would I have been allowed to breast feed him in court ? Even if older .. ? What would be the ruling ..

cashman · 17-01-2008, 23:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by katex

LOl .. just had a thought.. he was born the week before, would I have been allowed to breast feed him in court ? Even if older .. ? What would be the ruling ..

well if i had been the judge=YEH

garinda · 17-01-2008, 23:59

I did jury service when I lived in London. It was the time Barry George was to be tried for the murder of Jill Dando, and I was convinced I was going to be called for that, but would've be ineligible because she had been a customer of mine. I was also worried I'd miss my holiday.

I ended up doing two trials, one each week. The first was an aggravated burglary, and was quite straightforward, as he was as guilty as sin.

The second trial was a woman accused of GBH on a camera woman from SKY, who was filming Prince Andrew's visit to the London Eye. The woman and her two grown up children were trying to get to the ferry to Greenwich, which her kids had booked for her birthday treat.

I was elected foreman of the jury. Basically all eleven of the other jurors thought the woman was guilty beyond reasonable doubt, and I thought she was innocent.

We had to tell the judge we couldn't reach a majority verdict, then I had to stand up and tell the court we'd found her guilty. It was one of the hardest things I've had to do, and I felt like shouting out to the woman that I believed her!

The strangest thing about jury service is the seperation. You are kept away from anyone to do with your trial, you even eat in a seperate juror's dining room. Seperate that is until a recess is called. Then if you're a smoker you find yourself outside having a fag with the accused and all the witnesses.

cashman · 18-01-2008, 00:02

see ya been n awkward get from way back.

firth_dawn · 18-01-2008, 00:38

i would love to be called up for jury service as i am a nosy person.
would love it to be something very serious like a murder trial.

Mick · 18-01-2008, 07:46

I have done jury service 6 times upto now 2 in Preston and 4 in Burnley
i have been jury foreman 3 times .
it can be very boring you might be picked for jury service but there is no guarantee you will get on a jury.

WillowTheWhisp · 18-01-2008, 08:32

It's odd how some people get called loads of times and others are never called at all. I wonder how they do the selecting.

Quote:

Originally Posted by garinda

I was elected foreman of the jury. Basically all eleven of the other jurors thought the woman was guilty beyond reasonable doubt, and I thought she was innocent.

We had to tell the judge we couldn't reach a majority verdict, then I had to stand up and tell the court we'd found her guilty. It was one of the hardest things I've had to do, and I felt like shouting out to the woman that I believed her!

That must have been awful. I would have found it almost impossible to tell the court we'd reached a guilty verdict when I personally didn't feel it was the right verdict. Couldn't you have done a Jimmy Stewart and convinced the rest of them?

garinda · 18-01-2008, 11:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by WillowTheWhisp

It's odd how some people get called loads of times and others are never called at all. I wonder how they do the selecting.

That must have been awful. I would have found it almost impossible to tell the court we'd reached a guilty verdict when I personally didn't feel it was the right verdict. Couldn't you have done a Jimmy Stewart and convinced the rest of them?

I spent hours and hours trying to convince them that there was more than reasonable doubt about her guilt.

Frighteningly the other jurors that she was 'posh', and that literally prejudiced them as to her motive, hence their verdict.

James1234 · 18-01-2008, 11:43

If your selected are there limits as to where you might travel as it might be considered to far to travel, say the Old Bailey from example from up here?

Might you only attend cases say in northwest england for example and what about expenses do you get reimbursed, does your employer have to pay your wages still?

I wouldn't like to do it, not sure why just wouldn't like to do so, but I don't think you have any choice without good reason.