Bruce Lehrmann rape trial jury despatched again to deliberate after saying it was unable to agree on verdict
[ad_1]
Judges within the trial of accused rapist Bruce Lehrmann had been requested to assessment the proof after telling the decide they might not attain a verdict.
Mr Lehrmann, a former Liberal worker, is accused of raping then-colleague Brittany Higgins within the minister’s workplace at Parliament Home in 2019.
Mr Lehrmann pleaded not responsible and stated no sexual exercise passed off between the 2.
After greater than 4 days of deliberation, 12 jurors forwarded a be aware to ACT Chief Justice Lucy McCallum saying they might not agree on a unanimous verdict.
The decide referred to as the jurors again to the courtroom shortly after to encourage them to rethink their place.
“Judges are sometimes reluctant to discharge juries as a result of expertise exhibits that juries can usually agree, given extra time,” Justice McCallum stated.
“Every of you has sworn or affirmed that you’ll make a real judgment in line with the proof.
“And, as I informed you yesterday morning, that’s in the end your solely expectation and that is a crucial accountability.”
The ACT requires a unanimous determination for a responsible or not responsible verdict.
The jurors then requested the decide to go away and return to contemplate the proof tomorrow.
Chief Justice McCallum inspired them to take a break and attempt to calm down, and thanked them for “continued laborious work”.
Yesterday morning, the jury interrupted the deliberation to ask how a lot time the decide needed to give a verdict.
The chief justice reassured them with no expectations and informed them to not rush.
“You are taking on a regular basis you want,” she says.
[ad_2]
