Claims jurors 'shared lifts' with defendants (From Your Local Guardian)
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Claims jurors "forced to share lifts" with defendants at Kingston Crown Court
7:30am Friday 13th April 2012 in Weird news By David Lindsell, Assistant Editor
Kingston Crown Court
Jurors in the Kingston Mosque attack trial were forced to share lifts with defendants at Kingston Crown Court while the case was being heard, it has been claimed.
The Surrey Comet understands that the lift that normally holds jurors was out of action during the trial, due to refurbishment work on the unreliable elevators.
A source at the court, who asked not to be named, said: “You have already seen jurors in serious trials being forced into the same lift as defendants to the third floor as their lift is broken.”
The court declined to comment on the claims saying that it was a breach of security policy.
Court manager, Sean O’Brien, said: “I cannot confirm what arrangements we have for jurors within the building. This would be a breach of Her Majesty’s Court and Tribunal Service security policy.”
Mr O’Brien said the 11 lifts in the 14-year-old building had become increasing unreliable but £500,000 funding had allowed a refurbishment.
The refurbishment follows a judge apologising to jury members after they spent 30 minutes trapped in a lift last July.
In another development at the court, digital recording equipment, which captures every second of court cases, has been introduced ending the tradition of court loggers, whose job in recent years was to record cases.
Lawyers and defendants have been warned the automatic system continuously records comings and goings in courtrooms, catching embarrassing or off-hand remarks made during breaks or lunchtimes.
The introduction of the digital Darts system at the end of March meant 17 court loggers, working for an outside company and running the old tape machines, have been left jobless.
Mr O’Brien said a back-up system was in place to avoid the risk of expensive break-downs, at a cost of £10k a day.
He said: “I feel personal sadness and do of course wish them well for the future and hope those that want it will be successful in gaining employment in the future.”
Related articles
Click here for full coverage of the Kingston Mosque attack and trial
Comments(11)
bigjohnp
says...
6:30pm Mon 23 Apr 12
bigjohnp
says...
6:44pm Mon 23 Apr 12
How can a building only 14 years old be susceptible to lift breakdowns of such a crucial nature be allowed to happen?? Does this happen in the Houses of Parliament?? Surely Jurors in a lift with defendants is a matter for an immediate appeal??? an appalling situation, so where is that immediate question> accountability???? Who is responsible and why did this situation arise in a very important Crown Court. Serious questions need to be answered not brushed aside by juggling and helicopters. The 6 P's need to be implemented - Piror Planning Prevents Pee Poor Performance. Some one is resposible for this irresponsible
situation. Seems to me that there are too many chiefs and not enough indians!! the Indians are disappeating and the chiefs are retreating into their Wigwams!!!
bigjohnp
says...
6:47pm Mon 23 Apr 12
How can a building only 14 years old be susceptible to lift breakdowns of such a crucial nature be allowed to happen?? Does this happen in the Houses of Parliament?? Surely Jurors in a lift with defendants is a matter for an immediate appeal??? an appalling situation, so where is that immediate question> accountability???? Who is responsible and why did this situation arise in a very important Crown Court. Serious questions need to be answered not brushed aside by juggling and helicopters. The 6 P's need to be implemented - Piror Planning Prevents Pee Poor Performance. Some one is resposible for this irresponsible
situation. Seems to me that there are too many chiefs and not enough Indians!! the Indians are disappearing and the chiefs are retreating into their Wigwams!!! Get a grip Chiefs !!!!
bigjohnp
says...
6:47pm Mon 23 Apr 12
How can a building only 14 years old be susceptible to lift breakdowns of such a crucial nature be allowed to happen?? Does this happen in the Houses of Parliament?? Surely Jurors in a lift with defendants is a matter for an immediate appeal??? an appalling situation, so where is that immediate question> accountability???? Who is responsible and why did this situation arise in a very important Crown Court. Serious questions need to be answered not brushed aside by juggling and helicopters. The 6 P's need to be implemented - Piror Planning Prevents Pee Poor Performance. Some one is resposible for this irresponsible
situation. Seems to me that there are too many chiefs and not enough Indians!! the Indians are disappearing and the chiefs are retreating into their Wigwams!!! Get a grip Chiefs !!!!
bigjohnp
says...
6:48pm Mon 23 Apr 12
How can a building only 14 years old be susceptible to lift breakdowns of such a crucial nature be allowed to happen?? Does this happen in the Houses of Parliament?? Surely Jurors in a lift with defendants is a matter for an immediate appeal??? an appalling situation, so where is that immediate question> accountability???? Who is responsible and why did this situation arise in a very important Crown Court. Serious questions need to be answered not brushed aside by juggling and helicopters. The 6 P's need to be implemented - Piror Planning Prevents Pee Poor Performance. Some one is resposible for this irresponsible
situation. Seems to me that there are too many chiefs and not enough Indians!! the Indians are disappearing and the chiefs are retreating into their Wigwams!!! Get a grip Chiefs !!!!
bigjohnp
says...
6:49pm Mon 23 Apr 12
How can a building only 14 years old be susceptible to lift breakdowns of such a crucial nature be allowed to happen?? Does this happen in the Houses of Parliament?? Surely Jurors in a lift with defendants is a matter for an immediate appeal??? an appalling situation, so where is that immediate question> accountability???? Who is responsible and why did this situation arise in a very important Crown Court. Serious questions need to be answered not brushed aside by juggling and helicopters. The 6 P's need to be implemented - Piror Planning Prevents Pee Poor Performance. Some one is resposible for this irresponsible
situation. Seems to me that there are too many chiefs and not enough Indians!! the Indians are disappearing and the chiefs are retreating into their Wigwams!!! Get a grip Chiefs !!!!
bigjohnp
says...
6:50pm Mon 23 Apr 12
How can a building only 14 years old be susceptible to lift breakdowns of such a crucial nature be allowed to happen?? Does this happen in the Houses of Parliament?? Surely Jurors in a lift with defendants is a matter for an immediate appeal??? an appalling situation, so where is that immediate question> accountability???? Who is responsible and why did this situation arise in a very important Crown Court. Serious questions need to be answered not brushed aside by juggling and helicopters. The 6 P's need to be implemented - Piror Planning Prevents Pee Poor Performance. Some one is resposible for this irresponsible
situation. Seems to me that there are too many chiefs and not enough Indians!! the Indians are disappearing and the chiefs are retreating into their Wigwams!!! Get a grip Chiefs !!!!
bigjohnp
says...
6:51pm Mon 23 Apr 12
How can a building only 14 years old be susceptible to lift breakdowns of such a crucial nature be allowed to happen?? Does this happen in the Houses of Parliament?? Surely Jurors in a lift with defendants is a matter for an immediate appeal??? an appalling situation, so where is that immediate question> accountability???? Who is responsible and why did this situation arise in a very important Crown Court. Serious questions need to be answered not brushed aside by juggling and helicopters. The 6 P's need to be implemented - Piror Planning Prevents Pee Poor Performance. Some one is resposible for this irresponsible
situation. Seems to me that there are too many chiefs and not enough Indians!! the Indians are disappearing and the chiefs are retreating into their Wigwams!!! Get a grip Chiefs !!!!
bigjohnp
says...
7:10pm Mon 23 Apr 12
xnabca
says...
9:58am Tue 24 Apr 12
http://www.schneier.
com/ has some other interesting news on KCC. Remember, you saw it first in the Surrey Comet.
admin@kingstoncrowncourt.com says...
7:55am Sat 14 Apr 12
Comments regarding the http://www.surreycom
et.co.uk/news/ukonst
rike/9392815.Wheels_
of_justice_keep_turn
ing_despite_striking
_staff/
and the wheels having finally fallen off are extremely demoralising. Management are oft seen as scape-goats while attempting to juggle and fly helicopters concurrently.