Jury discharged in murder trial

Press, 28 May 1981, Page 3

Jury discharged in murder trial

PA Auckland A High Court jury was discharged yesterday alter it was discovered that the foreman was a former .policeman and had been involved in a business transaction with one of the prosecution witnesses. The accused, Brent David Tomkins, aged 17, and Arthur James Adlam, aged 15. both unemployed, have denied a charge of the murder of a taxi-driver, Daniel Claude Harkins, and robbing him, at Greenhithe on or about Oc-

tober 5, last year. The trial was in its third day. After discharging the jury, Mr Justice Vautier asked for a new jury to be empanelled. His Honour said he was told on Tuesday afternoon that the foreman was a former member of the New Zealand Police and had been stationed in the Auckland district. In his present occupation, the foreman had also been involved in a business transaction of a private nature

with one of the prosecution witnesses. His Honour said he wanted to make it very clear that he would not take the view that a former policeman would not be competent to serve on the jury. He considered the guiding rule was that regard should be had whether there was anything at all in the particular case that meant there might be some difficulty in a particular jury’s acting dispassionately.