Phone Hacking Trial Latest

[mikey4444]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-27311370

This topic has gone very quiet of late here on AB and I just wanted to remind people know that the trial is still going on. If the prosecution is making its final remarks today, we can't be far from the end now.

I still have my fingers crossed that justice will prevail.

[Jomlett]

There's at least another 2 weeks of closing speeches...

[mikey4444]

Well...we have waited this long...what is another couple of weeks Jomlett !

[Psybbo]

Crikey, I can't imagine what it would be like to sit as a juror for 7+ months.

[tonyav]

Dosn't bare thinking about, Psybbo, two weeks is to long imo.

[mikey4444]

That is a serious concern Psybbo. I am employed on a freelance basis, and I would have gone bankrupt a long time ago. Its even worse for the Jury at the new Hillsboro Inquests....these are said to go on until mid-December !

Does our resident Judge, NJ, have any advice about this situation with overly long court cases ?

[Jomlett]

The closing speeches from 8 lawyers will take time!

The court doesn't sit every week day, and this Friday the jury isn't needed as the judge deals with the medical case notes of Clive Goodman who is today in hospital with pneumonia. Case management can take many days off the expected timeline. The judge some time ago told the jury if the trial ran into June he would allow them a week off for holiday.

[mikey4444]

Jomlett...even so, a large chunk taken out of a jurors life, although I don't see any real alternative.

[Jomlett]

Certainly is. I've sat on 2 juries and 2 days on both was more than enough for me!

[Zeuhl]

/I am employed on a freelance basis, and I would have gone bankrupt a long time ago./

Mikey

I would hope that would be grounds for being excused from jury service

[Jomlett]

You can claim any loss of salary...

[Zeuhl]

^

I doubt that jomlett

there are set allowances, so I doubt they will pay a top plumber/dentist £1,000 a day.

And if my extended absence costs my company a £100,000 project, I doubt they would compensate for that.

[Jomlett]

I was lucky both with short trials and costs. As first a civil servant I only had to claim travel costs and the second trial I was retired so again only travel expenses and yes I seem to remember a financial limit.

I seem to remember before accepting jury service I was asked any reason for not attending and I wonder if freelance employment was an exception to serving?

[youngmafbog]

Freelance employment is not an exception to serving. You just have to take it on the chin.

I know this from bitter experience.