A CRISIS

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 97, 6 December 1928, Page 5

A CRISIS

FRENCH. CRIMINAL PROCEDURE. , CLAIMS OF A JURY. (Received 12.40 p.m.) ■ ' PARIS, December 5. Another strange verdict by a Seine jury has decreased public astonishment: A grocer, accused of murdering a girl, pleaded drunkenness as the: sole pxcuse. Accused was guilty on the clearest evidence, yet the jury’s verdict was one of not’guilty. The judge discharged the prisoner. The ‘ jury afterwards published a resolution “For the Second time in two days a, Sein e jury finds itself faced with conscientious scruples. It desires to return a verdict of guilty, but is unable t'o obtain a formal guarantee concerning the penalty. It therefore expresses the opinion the law should be reformed in order t 0 give the jury power to define the Consequences of its verdict.” The resolution, has occasioned a great public outcry, and it is evident j a crisis is arising in French criminal pr/cedure when juries claim the right to determine sentences. —Times cable.