Jury

Jury Meaning

The members of the jury discuss the evidence presented to them and reach a decision on each count based on their interpretation of the facts and the information provided to them by the judge on the applicable laws. If the jurors are certain that the defendant is guilty, they are required to reach a guilty verdict. It's possible that you've encountered the rather theatrical phrase "beyond any reasonable doubt."

The Jury system

The jury system in the UK is an essential aspect of the justice system. The jury consists of 12 people who are chosen at random from the electoral list. They are responsible for deciding the outcome of a criminal trial based on the evidence presented in court. Jurors must be impartial and unbiased in their decision-making and must consider both the prosecution and defense arguments. The UK jury system is considered to be a cornerstone of the legal system, providing a fair and just trial to all those who come before it. It ensures that the final verdict is not decided solely by a judge or a panel of experts but by everyday citizens who take their civic duty seriously.

The jury in R v Dudley and Stephens (1884)

In R v Dudley and Stephens (1884) 14 QBD 273, the jury played a crucial role in determining the guilt of the two defendants. The case involved the killing and cannibalism of a young cabin boy by four crew members of a ship stranded in the high seas. During the trial, the jury had to consider the defendants' claim of necessity, which argued that they had acted out of desperation to save their own lives. Despite the seemingly sympathetic circumstances, the jury found the defendants guilty of murder and sentenced them to death. The jury's decision reflected the view that the sanctity of human life must be upheld, even in exceptional circumstances. The Dudley and Stephens case remains a landmark case in the development of English criminal law and continues to be studied as a precedent for determining the limits of the necessity defense.

Law Books

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