INFLUENCING JURIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18357, 24 March 1923, Page 11

INFLUENCING JURIES.

PROFESSOR'S OPINION.

TWELVE MEN TOO MANY.

[FROM our OWN correspondent.] . SYDNEY. March 15. The interesting theory that it was possible for a skilled advocate to influence 12 jurymen more easily than eight has just* been propounded by Professor Coleman Phillipson in giving evidence before tha Law Reform Commission in Adelaide. He said that twelve came to be almost a crowd, and a crowd's psychology was a very curious thing. There was no special sanctity in maintaining the number at 12. ,It would help the working of the system if the number was reduced to 10, nine, or even eight, but he thought it might be dangerous to go below 8. They wanted the jury to represent the spirit of community and also that spirit of personal responsibility. • Personally he did not belie*© in unanimous verdicts in cases of capital offences and certain very serious felonies. He would' keep up the unanimous .verdict for the time being, but it would be altered later on ; if that were found desirable. Regarding other offences he would say that a three-quarter majority would be sufficient, in a jury of eight a verdict of six would suffice. Witness, dealing with the question of challenging jurors, said it-» should be either abolished or reduced. Tampering with juries might be made a more serious offence, and the punishment should be increased. . , •-' "''.*,' f ' '•' -