The Criminal Justice Act 2003 provides that in certain circumstances a criminal trial can be held without a jury. One of the main reasons for doing so is when there is a clear risk of jury tampering.
In December 2008, a trial collapsed for the fourth time, following allegations of attempted jury tampering. The Lord Chief Justice has now ruled that the trial (which is alleged to have already cost more than £22 million) may be heard by a judge sitting without a jury.
This is the first time the legislation has been used to remove the need for trial by jury and comes after a period of increasing disquiet about intimidation and attempted bribery of jurors.
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Trial by Judge
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