JURY TRIALS IN SMALL CENTRES

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27917, 14 March 1956, Page 3

JURY TRIALS IN SMALL CENTRES

JUDGE’S ADVICE TO JURORS

(New Zealand Press Association) BLENHEIM, March 13. There are those who are opposed to Supreme Court sittings being held m the smaller places of the size of Blenheim because, they say, a person in a small community runs the risk of having justice dispensed, not on trial, but on gossup,” said Mr Justice Turner to a jury in the Supreme Court at Blenheim today. The jury is hearing charges against a shearing contractor, alleging failure to pay the Inland Revenue Department wages tax deducted from the wages of his employees. His Honour impressed on the jury the need to refrain from discussing the case with anybody, except among themselves “during this and any subsequent adjournment.” He said: “It would be easy in a case like this for you to approach your verdict finding yourselves influenced. not by what was said in Court, but by what relatives and friends, who don’t know anything about the facts, have said. Don’t expose yourselves to this risk.”