JURY ACT 1995 - SECT 59A
Verdict in criminal cases for other offences
JURY ACT 1995 - SECT 59A
Verdict in criminal cases for other offences
59A Verdict in criminal cases for other offences
(1) This section applies to a criminal trial on indictment other than the
following trials—
(a) a trial for an offence mentioned in section 59(1) (a)
; or
(b) a trial before a jury as mentioned in section 59(1) (b) .
(2) If,
after the prescribed period, the judge is satisfied that the jury is unlikely
to reach a unanimous verdict after further deliberation, the judge may ask the
jury to reach a majority verdict.
(4) For
the definition in subsection (6) ,
"prescribed period" , paragraph (a), the periods mentioned in subparagraphs
(i), (ii) and (iii) are the periods reasonably calculated by the judge.
(5) A
decision of the judge under subsection (4) is not subject to appeal.
(6) In
this section—
"majority verdict" means—
(a) if the jury consists of 12 jurors—a verdict
on which at least 11 jurors agree; or
(b) if the jury consists of 11
jurors—a verdict on which at least 10 jurors agree.
"prescribed period" means—
(a) a period of at least 8 hours after the jury
retires to consider its verdict, not including any of the following periods—
(i) a period allowed for meals or refreshments;
(ii) a period during which
the judge allows the jury to separate, or an individual juror to separate from
the jury;
(iii) a period provided for the purpose of the jury being
accommodated overnight; or
(b) the further period the judge considers
reasonable having regard to the complexity of the trial.
