GUILTY UK - Louise Smith, 16, Havant, Hampshire, 8 May 2020 *Arrest*

[Harchmare]

Any guesses for how long the jury will be out?
I think they will decide in under 5minutes,but wait for an hour to show they sat and discussed matters.

The Juries Act 1974 requires at least 2 hours to pass between a jury retiring and a majority direction being given, but the convention is to allow at least 2 hours and 10 minutes, to take into account the time it will take any jury to get from the courtroom to the jury room and back.

Crown Court Trial Part 6 - Verdict — Defence-Barrister.co.uk

Is this still accurate?

 

[Harchmare]

20 minutes ago
Jury has been sent out
Jurors have retired to consider their verdict, with Mrs Justice May telling the jury to reach a unanimous verdict.

She tells the jury members ‘take just the time you will need’ to reach their decision.

Jurors left the courtroom at 12.12pm.

Louise Smith trial: Live updates as jurors in Shane Mays case sent out

 

[Skigh]

The Juries Act 1974 requires at least 2 hours to pass between a jury retiring and a majority direction being given, but the convention is to allow at least 2 hours and 10 minutes, to take into account the time it will take any jury to get from the courtroom to the jury room and back.

Crown Court Trial Part 6 - Verdict — Defence-Barrister.co.uk

Is this still accurate?

That is interesting,I learn so much on here!

So perhaps a verdict between 2:30 and 3:00pm.

 

[Sooty]

That is interesting,I learn so much on here!

So perhaps a verdict between 2:30 and 3:00pm.

Unless it’s unanimous- which is likely surely?

 

[Skigh]

Unless it’s unanimous- which is likely surely?

I cannot imagine it would be anything other than unanimous.
I think that court will stop for lunch for a while so not expecting anything before 2:30.

 

[Alyce]

I think they will be back around 3pm.
They will have lunch, Judges sometimes give an instruction that if they have not decided by 1pm, then they must wait until at least 2pm, to allow a lunch break for everyone involved.
I would say they will have a final 10 minutes or so at 2pm, then send out word that they are ready and by the time the ushers get everyone back into Court, it will be approaching 3pm for verdict.
Unless of course we have a juror who thinks he didn't mean to kill her.

 

[Alyce]

The Juries Act 1974 requires at least 2 hours to pass between a jury retiring and a majority direction being given, but the convention is to allow at least 2 hours and 10 minutes, to take into account the time it will take any jury to get from the courtroom to the jury room and back.

Crown Court Trial Part 6 - Verdict — Defence-Barrister.co.uk

Is this still accurate?

I believe it is still accurate, but I have never known a Judge to ask for/allow a majority verdict on the first day. They usually wait until at least day 3 before offering the option.

 

[Harchmare]

12:43KEY EVENT
Jury sent out
The jury is now out in the murder trial of Louise Smith.

They are now deliberating on a verdict of whether Shane Mays is guilty or not guilty of murdering the teenager.

12:43JAMIE PHILLIPS
How long will the jury take to reach a verdict?
This is the inevitable question, but it is one that simply does not have an answer.

There is no maximum time, nor is there a minimum amount of time for a jury to reach a verdict.

Mrs Justice May explained this to the jury shortly before sending them out.

There is no maximum amount of time, nor minimum amount of time. You take the time you need.

Louise Smith Murder trial updates as jury to begin deliberations

No minimum time then!

 

[Lucy6226]

Judge is like - don't be messing about I want an early tea tonight haha

 

[Harchmare]

I think they will be back around 3pm.
They will have lunch, Judges sometimes give an instruction that if they have not decided by 1pm, then they must wait until at least 2pm, to allow a lunch break for everyone involved.
I would say they will have a final 10 minutes or so at 2pm, then send out word that they are ready and by the time the ushers get everyone back into Court, it will be approaching 3pm for verdict.
Unless of course we have a juror who thinks he didn't mean to kill her.

Or cause her injury...

 

[Harchmare]

Guilty or not guilty of murder? What do you say?

 

[astheworldfallsdown]

I vote guilty of murder.

 

[AnnesCuthberts]

I say guilty of murder also

 

[Skigh]

Never had any doubt ,murder. Some other cases such as Lindsay Birbeck, I have really had to think and kept changing my mind.
There is nothing here which gives me any doubt.
The only thing I question is how involved CJ was.

 

[Harchmare]

Guilty.

 

[Harchmare]

Never had any doubt ,murder. Some other cases such as Lindsay Birbeck, I have really had to think and kept changing my mind.
There is nothing here which gives me any doubt.
The only thing I question is how involved CJ was.

I guess we'll never know...

 

[Alyce]

Guilty without a doubt.

Often with trials, I worry when waiting for a verdict, thinking that maybe the defendant will be found not guilty ( when in my eyes he or she is very definitely guilty ). With this case I just have no doubts whatsoever that the Jury will be unanimous with a guilty verdict.

Also, agree with Skigh - I would like to know more about Cjs involvement and if any other charges should have been brought.

 

[whatawaster]

Guilty also

 

[Kiranerys]

Guilty here too

 

[Harchmare]

GUILTY!