Juror who researched law on Mumsnet spared jail
A juror who researched the law on Mumsnet has been spared jail.
Suzanne Asquith had been serving on a jury in a child cruelty case in Sept 2022 when she became “frustrated” with the other members of the jury during heated deliberations, a court heard.
The 56-year-old foster carer for guide dogs decided to do online research to arm herself for the debates, as the jury deliberated on a case concerning offences of harm to a child and child cruelty.
Another member of the jury subsequently became concerned with Asquith’s “bullying attitude”, Reading Crown Court heard on Thursday.
Matthew Knight, prosecuting, said: “The juror noted Ms Asquith had made some comments about having found something out or words to the effect: ‘I know we are not supposed to Google but.’”
Police had later arrested Asquith and examined her devices. They discovered search terms such as the word ‘cretin’, ‘how do jurors reach a verdict?’, ‘does a jury have to be unanimous?’.
She had also searched the forum site Mumsnet about children being taken into care and, separately, for information about the defence counsel in the case.
Mr Knight added: “There was no direct searching for that case or those within it. How that impacted on deliberations, no one can really say.”
Asquith only juror for guilty verdict
The court heard the 11 jurors had reached a majority decision that the defendants should be cleared of two charges they faced, with Asquith being the sole juror feeling the defendants were guilty.
Verdicts could not be reached for two other charges against the defendants and they were sent for trial with a separate jury.
The court heard Asquith has worked for 15 years in regulation with a US organisation involved in geocaching, which had required regular travel to America.
Since her conviction she had been working as an invigilator with young children and also as a foster carer, providing a respite service for guide dogs.
Hassan Baig said the defendant had expressed the “frustrations she felt during the deliberations” as she started “feeling isolated”.
“She felt at times that she found it difficult to communicate with other members of the jury and she felt at times that they were not following the directions.
“Where she erred is rather than making a note and putting that before the court so that counsel can see it and the judge will be able to give any clear directions.”
Mr Baig said Asquith had not wanted to hand a note to the judge after taking part in deliberations where there were “personality clashes within that jury room” and “people talking over people”.
“If she had sent the note, everybody else would know that it would be her sending that note,” he explained.
Jury told not to do own research
Asquith, of Battalion Way in Thatcham, Berkshire, had admitted one count of carrying out research while a member of the jury during the trial period.
Judge Amjad Nawaz said the judge in the Sept 2022 trial at Reading Crown Court had given clear directions to the jury about not doing their own research.
“This is not a case where she has researched any evidence, such as bad character,” Judge Nawaz said.
“But these directions are give so to ensure the trial process is undertaken fairly, that it is open justice on the basis that everybody else involved in the trial process clearly understands that they are all working from the same page of the book. This defendant decided to break ranks.”
The judge commented there was an “unexplained delay” in bringing the case after Asquith was arrested on Sept 18, 2022.
He also said he had considered “the prison population and the pressures on the system so far as prison population are concerned”.
Judge Nawaz sentenced Asquith to 22 weeks imprisonment, suspended for a period of 12 months, involving a requirement to carry out 20 days Rehabilitation Activity Requirement.
