Failed To Appear For Jury Service

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30810, 23 July 1965, Page 10

Failed To Appear For Jury Service

(New Zealand Press Association) PALMERSTON NORTH, July 22. A Feilding woman who failed to appear for jury service at Palmerston North on Tuesday and since then, and who was stated to have later told a constable: “They can do what they like. I am not going,” was fined £3 by Mr Justice Tompkins in the Supreme Court today.

His honour said jury service was an important dutyon every member of the community who was summoned to attend. It was a privilege in the courts to be tried by jury, and the proper administration of the system was one of its important principles. The judge said he realised attending and serving on a jury might involve inconvenience and sacrifice, but such was the duty of every citizen. The woman is Jane Howard Sinclair, of 20 Derbystreet, Feilding. whose name has been called in Court three times since Tuesday, according to the Crown Prosecutor. Mr J. A. Ongley. ■ Constable G. A. Stevens, of Feilding, said he had asked defendant at her home whe-

■lther she knew she was ex- | pected to attend at court. ■ Her reply was that she did I not know and that it had nothing to do with her. j She finally found the summons and after having had |it explained to her she rej plied: “They can do what they like, I am not going.”