Peter's experience of Jury Service - see Page 2

[Peter]

I started jury service on Monday. Today I got my first case. I'll discuss it after the case has finished.

[Peter]

And so my first case is complete. I have to say I quite enjoyed the experience, if that is the right word.

The case before us was a trial of a now 21 year old (19 at the time) dealing cannabis, at the time classified as a Class C drug (lowest classification). Defendant had previously plead guilty to possession of cannabis.

Defendant's house was raided by police (with a warrant) in July 2007 whereupon he and a friend attempted to barracade themselves into a bedroom with a wardrobe. Upon forcing entry, the police discovered a total of 5.5 oz of skunk cannabis (and for those of you who don't know what the difference is, our jury received an hour lecture on it), a set of highly sensitive digital scales, and lots of small resealable plastic bags. The prosecution contended that all of this in total suggested drug dealing. Apparently 5.5 oz of this stuff is enough for 750 cannabis cigarettes and has a street value of approx £1000.

The defence's argument was that the whole quantity was for personal consumption and that in fact our defendant was a chain pot smoking maniac, and therefore bought wholesale. The quantities that was suggested for the defense was quite simply mindblowing (and not just for the jury!). They didn't give much else by way of a defense.

The jury retired for 1 hour 15 minutes. It is illegal under British Law to ever discuss our deliberations, so I won't.

We found the defendant guilty as charged. It transpired after our verdict had been rendered that the defendant has previous convictions for assault, for which he has a suspended sentence of a year. Apparently it is now very likely that he will go to jail for breach of the terms of the suspension much aside from the sentence for this drugs charge.

[Peter]

isn't this illegal

It is perfectly legal for a juror to recite the evidence that was read in open court (it is a matter of public record after all). It is illegal for me to discuss the jury deliberations.