[TV] Crown Court.

[Gwylan]

Great theme music.

I remember going to the Proms as a teenager and Sinfonietta was one of the pieces in the programme. I had to stop myself blurting out "Crown Court" when I heard it. I'd have looked like a complete dork

It was a great programme: essential viewing in the holidays

 

[Weststander]

I sometimes think that whatever random thought pops up in his head....he will start a thread about it.

and posts the first two replies.

 

[Weststander]

I had a very similar experience but only sat on one case that lasted two days. We had almost exactly the same dynamic of jurors, even one who said "of course he did it, he's Greek, they're all dodgy". Thank goodness we had enough level headed jurors to ignore his opinion. But genuinely quite scary that a person's freedom could be in the hands of a juror who finds that way of thinking acceptable.

One of the hangem’s said a young lad was clearly guilty because he was half asleep. Which was true, but there were genuine and heartbreaking reasons why .... spelt out later in the case.

I agree. One of the jurors told me about past jury service for them, where they hadn’t applied the same detail, interest and care that we were, instead far more rushed.

 

[dazzer6666]

Also got two interesting cases, each lasting a week. Very lucky, others sat in the jury lounge doing nothing for their stint. Out of a large pool of us at Hove CC, when they read out the random names for the second case, ten of us from the first jury were selected again. I got on well with everyone, a real mixed bunch as you’d expect in our part of the world.

I found the human dynamics of the jury interesting. A couple of “Let’s cut to the chase, they’re clearly guilty” types .... said at the first coffee break. Juxtaposed to an eclectic bunch of Brightonians. The hangem’s didn’t get their wish, we went through all our notes on the evidence and legal directions from the judge methodically. A charismatic vicar was the chairperson.

Similarly, two very good prosecution barristers.

We were able to see through some exaggerating by a prosecution witness, I thought it quite clever the way we worked that out on our own. The final stage was gently persuading fence sitters on why they should steer a certain way if they felt comfortable with that. A couple of bullies tried to get them to hurry up, so they could get back to normal life. The bullies were eased to one side.

Sounds very similar. We had one juror who said ‘he’s guilty, he was looking at me funny and I don’t like the look of him’ and one that wasn’t convinced of guilt at the end so we were 11-1 for several hours. At one point he said he’d vote guilty just so we could all go home after someone tried to push him......

The Usher/clerk we had was funny. After we’d returned the verdict and were back in the jury room, she came in and said ‘well you got that one right, the little ****ard definitely did it’

 

[Weststander]

Sounds very similar. We had one juror who said ‘he’s guilty, he was looking at me funny and I don’t like the look of him’ and one that wasn’t convinced of guilt at the end so we were 11-1 for several hours. At one point he said he’d vote guilty just so we could all go home after someone tried to push him......

The Usher/clerk we had was funny. After we’d returned the verdict and were back in the jury room, she came in and said ‘well you got that one right, the little ****ard definitely did it’

At Hove CC we’d head down to Tesco Express Palmeira Square at lunchtime. Whilst in that tiny shop, there was our wigless judge, also one of the defendents.

 

[Gwylan]

Serving on a jury is an amazing experience. I was on one where one of the jurors said 'Not Guilty' because medical evidence was given by an African doctor and "everyone knows that all Africans are liars". And I was on another where a juror voted 'Not Guilty' because she fancied the defence barrister.

How the wheels of justice turn ...

 

[The Clamp]

I had a rather dull case which involved the reading out of endless phone numbers and transcripts. There was an intriguing shoe box full of cash in the mix but it was mainly boring and very hard to concentrate. Imagine it’s Friday afternoon and you’ve got double Physics with Ms.No-Joy. It was tough to keep on top of the details but we reached the right decision I think .

I find the ritual and formality of a courtroom endlessly fascinating though.

 

[dazzer6666]

At Hove CC we’d head down to Tesco Express Palmeira Square at lunchtime. Whilst in that tiny shop, there was our wigless judge, also one of the defendents.

Same in Lewes - v difficult not to bump into people. During his defence, we saw the defendant high-fiving and celebrating with his family in a restaurant during the lunch break. Too soon pal, too soon.......

 

[drew]

I had jury service about 7/8 years ago. One case at Hove and the other at Lewes. Pretty much the same 12 were selected for both. Our foreman was a retired colonel from the tank regiment which we only found out after voting for him. Quite handy as he had sat on a few court martials!! A few Brighton fans thrown in and a former member of the Cure.

 

[boik]

Would have been late 70,s into the 80,s early afternoon slot if i am correct and wasn't it scripted until the verdict which was twelve members the general public ?

In my head I have it as following "Angels" which my Mum used to watch.

 

[Swansman]

Those wigs still around or did time catch up?

 

[Lenny Rider]

Nothing could ever beat the Testcard

Fun fact, for many years the girl on the Test Card held the record for appearing the most hours on British TV, no doubt she’s been since overtaken by Phil Schofield or Ant and Dec?

 

[Westdene Seagull]

Fun fact, for many years the girl on the Test Card held the record for appearing the most hours on British TV, no doubt she’s been since overtaken by Phil Schofield or Ant and Dec?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/test_card_girl/zbxftrd

 

[Knocky's Nose]

Those wigs still around or did time catch up?

No, they all still dress like 17th Century ghosts... A friend of mine is a QC and does judging and would rather they got with the times but I think it's all meant to intimidate personally.

 

[rocker959]

One of the Judges on Crown Court was the late great John Barron who played the brilliant CJ in Reggie Perrin and also an excellent 1962 murder movie called Jigsaw set in Brighton which mentions the Albion and has various settings locally .I also remember Houseparty very well with the ladies including Lucy from Brighton and Mary the Chef from Chichester also the two sisters Marg and ?. simpler happy days .

 

[el punal]

Nothing could ever beat the Testcard

Oh I don’t know - my daughter lived in Madrid a few years back. This particular evening she had friends round and the TV was on. What was being shown was some game show - the usual crap shite that’s shown in every country. The programme ended at 11pm and was replaced by hardcore porn involving a bloke, two girls and a donkey. Blankety-Blank it certainly wasn’t.

 

[Sussexscots]

If I recall right, Crown Court was set in the fictional town of Fulchester. Fulchester was later used as the setting for stories in Viz comic.

 

[whitelion]

Recently had a Crown Court Appearance. Back now in a hospital with pneumonia and Covid19.

Aok lads back on NSC...I've missed y'all!

 

[whitelion]

One of our more impenetrable posters

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AmG2Dq5OGM

Hi Harry how's tricks?

 

[Weststander]

One of the Judges on Crown Court was the late great John Barron who played the brilliant CJ in Reggie Perrin and also an excellent 1962 murder movie called Jigsaw set in Brighton which mentions the Albion and has various settings locally .I also remember Houseparty very well with the ladies including Lucy from Brighton and Mary the Chef from Chichester also the two sisters Marg and ?. simpler happy days .

Lucy Solomon from Peacehaven.