subject: Trial With Jury Solicitors In Hull Experience The Worst Of It [print this page] Two trials were nearly placed in jeopardy after it was discovered that a teenager had been texting another jury member, whilst in court. The judge informed Danielle Robinson, 19, from Hull that she had "let down her generation" and seriously risked the work of hull solicitors.
Miss Robinson pleaded guilty to contempt of court as a result of her sending text messages to another woman, whom was sitting in another trial at Hull crown court. Alarmingly, Miss Robinson was passing on "gossip" that she had heard of outside of court, about the defendant that was in the other trial.
The first text message sent from Miss Robinson, enquired into what case the other woman was sitting in. She texted: "Hi it"s Danielle from court. Are you doing the kid"s case?"
Obviously understand the severity of starting such a dialect with Miss Robinson, the woman responded that she could not talk. Miss Robinson did not leave it there however. In a second message to the woman she wrote,: "He's been in prison before and is a paedo, and when he broke into the pub he took all the kids underwear xx."
Miss Robinson was caught as a result of the other female juror reporting her behaviour to the court. Consequently both were dismissed and the two trials were allowed to continue, though you can be sure that there will some issues in the future, if an appeal is launched.
Solicitors in Hull were mortified to hear how close their respective cases were to being tampered with. The presiding judge, Roger Thorn, QC, remarked that the texts "could not have been a more blatant attempt to influence a jury". Ignorance was no defence for her behaviour.
"You blatantly breached " instructions about no communication with others. Even that juror warned you she should not talk about the case. The text message could not have been more damaging. Despite being told by the
other juror she could not talk about it, you sent the message saying the person had been to prison. And that he was a paedophile. About which there was no evidence."
Thorn added: "There are many who think that people aged 18-19 are too young to be on a jury because they lack experience of life. That is not generally my view. But look at how you have demonstrated to everyone else how that might be. You " have demonstrated such lack of common sense and judgment that you had to be discharged from a jury. It is said in your mitigation you were young stupid and immature " I find that difficult to accept."
Paul Genney, acting on behalf of Miss Robinson remarked that the teenager had behaved out of "naivety and excitement". He further added "This was a young, immature lady delighted to be on a jury, not someone who set out to deliberate engage in jury tampering. It was a stupid thing to do rather than a wicked thing. She is very immature. She got this information in a shop and texted it to a friend. She won't like me saying this but she is not highly intelligent."
"She is very, very, sorry for the trouble she has caused. She is terrified of going to prison and losing contact with her child."
Robinson will most likely get an eight month suspended sentence for her actions.
This incident could not have come at a worst time, when the legal community are debating the use of trial by jury. Solicitors in Hull as well as others, have experience the worst aspect of trial by jury.
