Soham Murder trial

[codswallop]

I am sure this must be indescribably Painful for the parents , But I was thinking in bed - what if I had been selected for that Jury service....

I am soooooo emotional and i reckon that this would seriously affect me for the rest of my life (not saying it wouldnt for others natch).

I know you cant get out of Jury Service But God - how would you cope?

[singingmum]

I wouldn't.Thankfully not an issue for me at moment as am agoraphobic however I think if it did I would get note from doc(sounds like getting out of school)as suffer deppression and cannot cope with that kind of stuff.

[coppertop]

A friend of mine worked on that case and said it was heartbreaking.

[CountessDracula]

It's unbearable isn't it. My SIL (who works for a daily paper) told me some terrible things about the case, I'm hoping they are not true Don't even like reading about it in the paper.

[codswallop]

Does anything get you out of it? they are verry strict....

[codswallop]

Oh and its till Jan - what if you were a SAHM - like me (luckily not inLondon)

[whitewater]

I was talking to dh about this this morning, same thoughts as you re what if I had been on the jury. I am sure it will be very harrowing for them all, obviously nowhere near as harrowing as for the family. But then I thought, how do they pick the 12 out of I think it was 100 possibles? I know they have to have a cross section, but would they pick mums, or dads with young children - would we already be subconsciously biased for example? Sorry rambled a bit, but hope you know what I mean.

[M2T]

I think you can get out of Jury service if you have child care issues.... or transport problems.
It's just so sickening. I really don't think there is much point in a trial, that man has been found guilty by most people already. I don't think there is anybody out there that could possibly be completely neutral about this case unless they hadn't ever listened to the news or read a newspaper.

Its times like this that I would bring in the death penalty.

[codswallop]

I like to think they would see me and say no - too blubby and I would be out.

You have to have no link to the local area etc

[CountessDracula]

M2T I think there are lots of facts that have not come out yet, the media gagging has actually been pretty effective in this case IMO. I would hate to be a juror on a case like this, you would just have to detach yourself completely I think

[codswallop]

it wanst about the boiler was it? was that an urban myth?

[SueW]

Didn't they get the jurors down to 25 then ask if any of them would be unable to commit to a three month trial? Anyone who had childcare issues would surely have to be allowed off on that basis?

[codswallop]

Oh phew

[codswallop]

You dont want to...

[tigermoth]

I couldn't serve on that jury, I know that. I would find it too harrowing. I feel so confused about the role of the girls ex teaching assistant in this. I don't know how guilty or not she is and her situation haunts me terribly.

I have got out of jury service before.
FYI I was a student and very busy with course work. I was allowed to decline.

[codswallop]

Acc to the news Carr didnt lie on a one off mistake - ish way or out of panic But consistently and repeatedly - infact she was away when the murder took place.

[CnR]

My mum got out of jury service as she was breastfeeding DD at the time of being called. There are certain circumstances when you can ask to decline - can't remember what they all are though. There is no way I could have 3 months away from work - surely that would have too large an impact on the children I teach and the run up to their exams and coursework? Fortunately not been in that position yet.

I would hate it, especially on a trial like this. I don't think I would be going in with a unbiased opinion that is the problem.

[Nome]

As a secondary teacher you can't get out of jury service - an colleague from my last school had to go for the last three weeks of the summer term and the first week of her hols, despite NVQ/A2 coursework. The Head at my last school was called too: she was allowed to put it off until the summer holidays. I guess it depends how senior you are. If you have booked a holiday, then you can usually delay jury service.

I was called in Scotland - they called 30 of us and the 15 who aren't selected receive a 'get out of jail free' card that lasts for ten years. Once you have served, you don't have to serve again for 5? years.

Though I have to admit, I sat there yesterday thinking what would I do (currently a SAHM) if I were called now. Take ds with me? Nevermind how horrible some cases are.

[codswallop]

yes IMe teachers are always called!

[alibubbles]

I got out of it becauseI said all the parents of the children I look after would have tp find other childcare, pay me to reatine their places and pay the new carer as well. I also said they should take into consideration the welfare of the children and how this could unsettle them, added to the fact that good quality childcare was hard to find at the time.

I finished by saying I realised I had to do my duty as a citizen and could be called again.

[codswallop]

so maybe I would get out of it. Good. am sure I would never be called!!

Just out of interest are Old Baileu jurors always called from London? not very balanced is it?

[M2T]

My sister got called, but when the defendant came in she knew him, so did one of the other Jurors!! So they were immediately excused.

Must add that it wasn't a murder trial or anything like that!

[suedonim]

My ds's wife didn't have to do jury service because her dad is a judge.

I wouldn't like to be on the Soham case, one bit, what a horrible job, I guess we should be thankful someone is prepared to do it, though.

[SueW]

I bet there are lots of people they call who can't do it. My DH was called but was unable to serve because he is a Kiwi and hadn't lived here long enough.