Called for jury service on monday, something I was not particulary looking forward to but you know how it is once you get into something you are not familiar with it all fits into place.
Well I arrived at the courthouse at nine forty five, for those of you who are not familiar with the proceedings. Thirty five are called for jury service for a particular case, we were all shown to the courtroom where the case was to commence. All the names are put into a bowl and fifteen are chosen for the jury. I was called third and felt quite pleased about it, saves me explaining to all whom I had told that I had been called for jury service why I had not been chosen.
When the fifteen of us had taken our place in the jury area we were told of the case, which was one of assault, a couple in the early hours of the morning were awoken by an intruder, sprayed in the face with some toxic substance, and one of them was kicked and punched.
The judge now made his grand entrance and we all stood with respect for his high place in society. The case, before it had begun was halted as the crown had something important to attend to, she had probably forgotten her notebook. We had to go to the jury room, we returned half an hour later and proceedings got under way.
The first witness for the crown was called, ten minutes into her interogation it was deemed that some were not hearing her clearly enough. It was decided that a microphone was required. Oh no we were not allowed to sit where we were we had to return to the jury room for ten minutes. On returning we found that the lilting tone of the witnesses local tongue was now enhanced with the improved acoustics in all its glory. As she berated a woman to whom she was filled with hatred for. a figure arose from the spectators, a middle aged man with long grey straggly hair at the sides bald on the top and a full grey beard. He blasted the witness with foul abuse at the top of his voice, promptly he was manhandled from the court, and told nevermore to return.
Ah excitement at last, the hapless witness did not bat an eyelid. Soon it would be time for lunch, we were taken to a nearby hotel and treated to a local delicacy of burnt scampi and chips, and after washing this down with fizzy stimulating alka seltser we were marched back to the courthouse whilst puzzled eyes glowered upon us from all directions.
On returning to the courtroom, proceedings got underway again and after two more witnesses for the crown we were allowed to go home. The trial would settle down and run for another two days in which we settled into our new enviroment. At the end of the third day we were asked to retire to the jury room to decide our verdict. The decision was unanimous Not Guilty. It would be unwise of me to give details. Hope I get a chance to do this again. Gardening tomorrow.
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