KINGSTON: Drugs juror is kicked off trial

9:21am Wednesday 18th June 2008

Comments (10)   Have your say »

A Surbiton juror was thrown out of a trial last week after being caught trying to enter Kingston Crown Court with a crack pipe and cannabis.

The dopey 32-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was seen acting suspiciously by security staff at the court on Wednesday, June 11.

He entered court but, before going through the security arch, ran back outside and attempted to hide something in his bicycle.

The juror then entered court a second time before fleeing again and throwing something in a nearby bush.

A Kingston police spokeswoman said: "A bicycle outside the court was searched, during which officers discovered a small amount of what is believed the class C drug cannabis, and a discarded crackpipe nearby.

"The juror was identified through CCTV and subsequently arrested for possession of cannabis.

"A juror in this environment would not normally bring suspicion upon themselves but this is a fine example of security staff and police working together and remaining vigilant at all times."

Kingston police confirmed that the juror was later given a caution for possessing drugs and was dismissed from the trial.

Kingston Crown Court is currently hosting the high security trial of three men accused of aiding the July 7 London bombers and there is a high police presence at the court.

A spokesman for Her Majesty's Court Service, said the juror, who was sitting on a theft trial, was immediately discharged by judge Mr Recorder Alper Riza QC on June 11 and the trial continued with 11 jurors.

However, the jury could not reach a verdict in the trial and the case has been postponed until June 20 for the Crown Prosecution Service to consider whether it wants to continue proceedings.

The court spokesman stressed the trial postponement had nothing to do with the dismissal of the juror.

"Security checks are carried out at courts across the country to safeguard public safety and prevent illegal activity taking place on Her Majesty's Courts Service premises," he said.

There are very strict guidelines about what can and cannot be taken into court. Cameras are banned, as is recording equipment, and only journalists and law students are allowed to take notes inside.

Weapons of any kind are banned from the court in Penrhyn Road, Kingston, although armed police regularly patrol when high profile cases, such as the current terror trial, are sitting.