Did a murder trial in Lewes. One person on the jury was doing her 4th case. All the others first timers. Harrowing experience. Hope never to repeat it.
What it taught me is that the majority of people are basically okay. In that I mean chuck a random selection of the Great British public who have never met together and see what happens. On each of my 5 occasions out of the other 11 jurors there was consistently one tosser but everyone else was utterly decent which struck me as a good proportion (of course there is a chance they thought I was the one tosser)
Of the 11 other jurors on my last case, who I'd never met before, I've now randomly bumped into or seen 4 of them since the end of jury service. Bizarre!
Of the 11 other jurors on my last case, who I'd never met before, I've now randomly bumped into or seen 4 of them since the end of jury service. Bizarre!
In a way that makes more sense or is more likely than being put on the same jury as 4 people you already know.
Of the 11 other jurors on my last case, who I'd never met before, I've now randomly bumped into or seen 4 of them since the end of jury service. Bizarre!
How do you know you've never bumped into them before? You would have no reason to recognise them until now.
Of the 11 other jurors on my last case, who I'd never met before, I've now randomly bumped into or seen 4 of them since the end of jury service. Bizarre!
How do you know you've never bumped into them before? You would have no reason to recognise them until now.
Of the 11 other jurors on my last case, who I'd never met before, I've now randomly bumped into or seen 4 of them since the end of jury service. Bizarre!
In a way that makes more sense or is more likely than being put on the same jury as 4 people you already know.
I did service a few years back .. first case was a possession with intent to supply .. as a bunch we thought that he was probably bang in, but after discussion we decided that he had definitely turned his life around and if we went for guilty it would fuck him up for life as prison was a probability .. so we went n g .. the judge and prosecution were gobsmacked, the defendant and counsel overjoyed
Few weeks later I was on the tube at Camden Town .. the defendant got on the train .. I ignored him, thought it best ... he got off a few stops later .. as he went past me he gripped my arm and said 'thank you' .. I was so pleased to have done the right wrong thing if you know what I mean
I did service a few years back .. first case was a possession with intent to supply .. as a bunch we thought that he was probably bang in, but after discussion we decided that he had definitely turned his life around and if we went for guilty it would fuck him up for life as prison was a probability .. so we went n g .. the judge and prosecution were gobsmacked, the defendant and counsel overjoyed
Few weeks later I was on the tube at Camden Town .. the defendant got on the train .. I ignored him, thought it best ... he got off a few stops later .. as he went past me he gripped my arm and said 'thank you' .. I was so pleased to have done the right wrong thing if you know what I mean
Very interesting post Lincs, and I totally understand your humanitarian standpoint, but surely its up to the jury to find the accused guilty or not guilty, if he was guilty as you say, then its up to the judge to mitigate the sentence?
I did service a few years back .. first case was a possession with intent to supply .. as a bunch we thought that he was probably bang in, but after discussion we decided that he had definitely turned his life around and if we went for guilty it would fuck him up for life as prison was a probability .. so we went n g .. the judge and prosecution were gobsmacked, the defendant and counsel overjoyed
Few weeks later I was on the tube at Camden Town .. the defendant got on the train .. I ignored him, thought it best ... he got off a few stops later .. as he went past me he gripped my arm and said 'thank you' .. I was so pleased to have done the right wrong thing if you know what I mean
I did service a few years back .. first case was a possession with intent to supply .. as a bunch we thought that he was probably bang in, but after discussion we decided that he had definitely turned his life around and if we went for guilty it would fuck him up for life as prison was a probability .. so we went n g .. the judge and prosecution were gobsmacked, the defendant and counsel overjoyed
Few weeks later I was on the tube at Camden Town .. the defendant got on the train .. I ignored him, thought it best ... he got off a few stops later .. as he went past me he gripped my arm and said 'thank you' .. I was so pleased to have done the right wrong thing if you know what I mean
Very interesting post Lincs, and I totally understand your humanitarian standpoint, but surely its up to the jury to find the accused guilty or not guilty, if he was guilty as you say, then its up to the judge to mitigate the sentence?
it was a fairly complicated and perhaps unusual case .. he'd already pled to possession and been sentenced to a fine/com service and probation a few months previously .. he was then charged much later with possession with intent for the same incident, the charges involved the Ministry of Sound who were on a big 'clean up campaign' at the time .. we, the jury (lol) sensed some overkill on the part of the DPP, even though he could well have been at it in a small way, the amount of drugs (ecstasy) was not that huge
as I wrote, as a jury, after a lot of discussion, we decided to find him n g as there was a risk that he would be imprisoned and in any event have a big stain on his record as well as a possession conviction .. giving his evidence he was articulate, he was obviously pretty scared and worried, he had no other previous, was working, had young children, was attending drug treatment therapy, had done his com service etc etc, he deserved a break in our collective opinion .. seeing him on the train was surreal .. he looked to be on his way to work .. so ... hopefully we did the 'right' thing
Of the 11 other jurors on my last case, who I'd never met before, I've now randomly bumped into or seen 4 of them since the end of jury service. Bizarre!
To be fair, you are all living in the same safe house now
I did service a few years back .. first case was a possession with intent to supply ..
as a bunch we thought that he was probably bang in, but after discussion we decided that he had definitely turned his life around and if we went for guilty it would fuck him up for life as prison was a probability .. so we went n g .. the judge and prosecution were gobsmacked, the defendant and counsel overjoyed
Few weeks later I was on the tube at Camden Town .. the defendant got on the train .. I ignored him, thought it best ... he got off a few stops later .. as he went past me he gripped my arm and said 'thank you' .. I was so pleased to have done the right wrong thing if you know what I mean
Very interesting post Lincs, and I totally understand your humanitarian standpoint, but surely its up to the jury to find the accused guilty or not guilty, if he was guilty as you say, then its up to the judge to mitigate the sentence?
I sat on a conspiracy case years ago at the Old Bailey and the jury was advised by the judge that we couldn't convict just one man - as there cannot be a conspiracy of one.
It was evident that there was one rotten apple and three fairly naive innocents. In the event they all went down together, but the judge was brilliant in his sentencing and the main man went down for a very long time, the others were given suspended sentences and some kind of therapy in order to help them.
I remember the judge well as his name was Judge ... Judge Judge. He went on to become the Lord Chief Justice.
Went on jury duty just before covid. Shit myself when I was told the jury I could be on would be a 3 month long fraud case - I am self employed and had just returned from an expensive trip to Australia. Thankfully I didn’t get picked, spent the next couple of days being tech support in the common room for older jurors trying to connect to WiFi etc and then got dismissed. Wasn’t pleasant arguing to a judge about why I shouldn’t be on that long 3 month trial. I don’t intend of ever being in front of a judge again!
Same for me. When I done it before I was on a case for about 6 weeks I think but I was employed so didn't lose out on earnings. Dread getting called up again now I'm self employed.
Went on jury duty just before covid. Shit myself when I was told the jury I could be on would be a 3 month long fraud case - I am self employed and had just returned from an expensive trip to Australia. Thankfully I didn’t get picked, spent the next couple of days being tech support in the common room for older jurors trying to connect to WiFi etc and then got dismissed. Wasn’t pleasant arguing to a judge about why I shouldn’t be on that long 3 month trial. I don’t intend of ever being in front of a judge again!
As I said in a previous posting here, I got a note from work saying I was too important to be spared on a long case! I should have asked for a pay rise if I was that important
A lot easier when you have a letter from your employer arguing your case, it must have been quite stressful as a self employed person having to argue this with the judge.
Went on jury duty just before covid. Shit myself when I was told the jury I could be on would be a 3 month long fraud case - I am self employed and had just returned from an expensive trip to Australia. Thankfully I didn’t get picked, spent the next couple of days being tech support in the common room for older jurors trying to connect to WiFi etc and then got dismissed. Wasn’t pleasant arguing to a judge about why I shouldn’t be on that long 3 month trial. I don’t intend of ever being in front of a judge again!
I also had to sit on a child abuse case and we were pre warned that it could be graphic and nasty.
A lady woman juror said that she couldn't face it and had to go in front of the judge and the whole court to plead her case. The judge questioned her and gave her a right hard time, it was awful to watch, the poor woman was pretty much having a breakdown. She was excused ... eventually.
Wait, you have to plead with the judge because you can’t afford to not be at work making money to live and made to feel like a criminal, whilst he probably packs up early to go play golf. The fucks that all about??
Wait, you have to plead with the judge because you can’t afford to not be at work making money to live and made to feel like a criminal, whilst he probably packs up early to go play golf. The fucks that all about??
It’s a civic duty that is fundamental to the legal system, jury’s must be a fair and true reflection of society, imagine how badly it could go if every jury was made up of rich/wealthy people.
I sat recently on a jury, terrible case, very, very upsetting for all involved, the sentence is going to be the maximum which is 20 years judge said he would impose further additional time to be added on because of the severity of the case as he was the defendant was considered a dangerous person, oh he was to be deported as well. We were warned also that it was going to be a traumatic case before the start, also told, that to be removed from the case we would have to appear In front of the judge. At the end of the case everybody involved in the court was given the chance for counselling including the judge, who admitted during pre sentencing it was the worst case he had every sat on. Think the final sentence will be passed next week, we were all invited back to the court to hear the final, not going but hope he is never let out, in hindsight should have taken the counselling as it took around 2 months before I could have a good night sleep, must have lived a very sheltered live, as I (and others on the jury) didn’t realise that there were such inhuman people around.
Comments
But the magistrate's thought not
Result!
You would have no reason to recognise them until now.
as a bunch we thought that he was probably bang in, but after discussion we decided that he had definitely turned his life around and if we went for guilty it would fuck him up for life as prison was a probability .. so we went n g .. the judge and prosecution were gobsmacked, the defendant and counsel overjoyed
Few weeks later I was on the tube at Camden Town .. the defendant got on the train .. I ignored him, thought it best ... he got off a few stops later .. as he went past me he gripped my arm and said 'thank you' .. I was so pleased to have done the right wrong thing if you know what I mean
as I wrote, as a jury, after a lot of discussion, we decided to find him n g as there was a risk that he would be imprisoned and in any event have a big stain on his record as well as a possession conviction .. giving his evidence he was articulate, he was obviously pretty scared and worried, he had no other previous, was working, had young children, was attending drug treatment therapy, had done his com service etc etc, he deserved a break in our collective opinion ..
seeing him on the train was surreal .. he looked to be on his way to work .. so ... hopefully we did the 'right' thing
Car-flip farmer cleared of dangerous driving and criminal damage - BBC News
It was evident that there was one rotten apple and three fairly naive innocents. In the event they all went down together, but the judge was brilliant in his sentencing and the main man went down for a very long time, the others were given suspended sentences and some kind of therapy in order to help them.
I remember the judge well as his name was Judge ... Judge Judge. He went on to become the Lord Chief Justice.
A lot easier when you have a letter from your employer arguing your case, it must have been quite stressful as a self employed person having to argue this with the judge.
A lady woman juror said that she couldn't face it and had to go in front of the judge and the whole court to plead her case. The judge questioned her and gave her a right hard time, it was awful to watch, the poor woman was pretty much having a breakdown. She was excused ... eventually.