Angry Brigade jury out

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33092, 6 December 1972, Page 19

Angry Brigade jury out

(N.Z. Press Association —Copyright; LONDON, December 5. The jury in Britain’s Angry Brigade trial is considering its verdict in a secret London hotel.

The jury members were taken there by coach from the Old Bailey after already considering their verdict in a jury room for about three and a half hours. Because of the vast complexity of the 109-day trial, and the estimated quarter of a million words which the Judge delivered in his summing up, the jury was taken to the secret accommodation to continue its formidable task. A bailiff and court usher will .be on hand to make sure there is no interference with the jury. Today the 12 men will be taken back to the Old Bailey and locked in their room.

This is a situation whicFi has not arisen in London for more than 30 years. Juries are usually kept in juryrooms until they reach a verdict which, in this case, Mr Justice James has ruled must be unanimous unless he gives further instructions. He said: "I take the view that it is of the utmost importance that the jury

should have a life quite free from any public attention.” For that reason, the accommodation arrangements “are the concern of the Court and any publication of the details of the arrangements and places involved will be in breach of this instruction. There shall be no such disclosure.” The trial is one of the most expensive criminal hearings in British legal history — bringing the case is estimated to have cost a staggering SN.Z.I.Sm. It is also one of the longest.

The Crown’s case is that the eight accused were revolutionary anarchists who sought to disrupt the democratic society of Britain. Evidence being considered by the jury relates to 25 incidents involving bombs and two shootings alleged to have occurred between March, 1968. and August, 1971. Two of the allegations involve home-made bomb attacks on the London home of Mr Robert Carr, then the British Employment Secretary.