callippo Posted May 19, 2012 Share Posted May 19, 2012 A JUROR who smoked a cannabis joint just yards from the entrance to Bolton Crown Court while on a lunch break from a trial has been fined £450. Shezad Hussain, aged 26, yesterday admitted being in contempt of court, claiming that his behaviour had been due to the stress of a recent robbery at the corner shop run by his family. Hussain was serving on a jury in Bolton on Friday last week and had been due to listen to Recorder Nicholas Clarke QC sum up the evi- dence in a rape case. But during a lunch break, he was spotted smoking the illegal drug outside the Blackhorse Street building by a juror on another trial. She informed the court authorities and Hussain was questioned by PC based at the court. Hussain initially denied the offence but changed his mind after he was told police could take his DNA from the ciga- rette stub they found in the street. The trial was delayed while Recorder Clarke decided what to do, eventu- ally opting on Monday to dismiss Hussain from the jury. Ben Lawrence, defending Hussain at his contempt of court hearing at Manches- ter Crown Court yesterday, told Recorder Clarke he was remorseful for his actions, but stressed that he had not smoked cannabis at any other point during the trial or brought any into the court building. “It was an opportunist occasion in that a friend of his was passing by and smoking cannabis and offered it to him. He unwise- ly took some,” said Mr Lawrence. He added that Hussain has been under stress recently following a violent attempt- ed robbery at the shop in Hamel Street, Great Lever, where he lives with his wife, two-year-old child and two younger sisters. Two men have been arrested and charged in connection with the inci- dent. Mr Lawrence said Hus- sain’s abilities to serve on a jury had not been affected by the small amount of drug he had taken. “He believes he would have been able to continue on that jury,” he said, adding that the cash-and- carry worker was “deeply apologetic”. Recorder Clarke said he accepted Hussain’s account of how he came to take the cannabis, but stressed that the court system demands that jurors should be free from the influence of drugs or alcohol. “I accept you have embar- rassed yourself and brought shame on yourself.” Hussain was fined £450 and warned that he faces 14 days in jail if he does not pay. The jury continued the rape trial of Rochdale man Lee Mohan but were unable to reach a verdict. A retrial will take place in November. http://www.thisislancashire.co.uk/news/9716234.Juror_fined_for_smoking_cannabis/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
callippo Posted May 19, 2012 Author Share Posted May 19, 2012 The jury continued the rape trial of Rochdale man Lee Mohan but were unable to reach a verdict. only because they were probably drunk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gnvqsos Posted May 19, 2012 Share Posted May 19, 2012 A JUROR who smoked a cannabis joint just yards from the entrance to Bolton Crown Court while on a lunch break from a trial has been fined £450. Shezad Hussain, aged 26, yesterday admitted being in contempt of court, claiming that his behaviour had been due to the stress of a recent robbery at the corner shop run by his family. Hussain was serving on a jury in Bolton on Friday last week and had been due to listen to Recorder Nicholas Clarke QC sum up the evi- dence in a rape case. But during a lunch break, he was spotted smoking the illegal drug outside the Blackhorse Street building by a juror on another trial. She informed the court authorities and Hussain was questioned by PC based at the court. Hussain initially denied the offence but changed his mind after he was told police could take his DNA from the ciga- rette stub they found in the street. The trial was delayed while Recorder Clarke decided what to do, eventu- ally opting on Monday to dismiss Hussain from the jury. Ben Lawrence, defending Hussain at his contempt of court hearing at Manches- ter Crown Court yesterday, told Recorder Clarke he was remorseful for his actions, but stressed that he had not smoked cannabis at any other point during the trial or brought any into the court building. “It was an opportunist occasion in that a friend of his was passing by and smoking cannabis and offered it to him. He unwise- ly took some,” said Mr Lawrence. He added that Hussain has been under stress recently following a violent attempt- ed robbery at the shop in Hamel Street, Great Lever, where he lives with his wife, two-year-old child and two younger sisters. Two men have been arrested and charged in connection with the inci- dent. Mr Lawrence said Hus- sain’s abilities to serve on a jury had not been affected by the small amount of drug he had taken. “He believes he would have been able to continue on that jury,” he said, adding that the cash-and- carry worker was “deeply apologetic”. Recorder Clarke said he accepted Hussain’s account of how he came to take the cannabis, but stressed that the court system demands that jurors should be free from the influence of drugs or alcohol. “I accept you have embar- rassed yourself and brought shame on yourself.” Hussain was fined £450 and warned that he faces 14 days in jail if he does not pay. The jury continued the rape trial of Rochdale man Lee Mohan but were unable to reach a verdict. A retrial will take place in November. http://www.thisislancashire.co.uk/news/9716234.Juror_fined_for_smoking_cannabis/ Poor bloke sacrifices his free time to serve on the jury,a nosy woman snitches and he faces a ridiculous fine.Would he have been fined if he was in the pub? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeadingNorth Posted May 19, 2012 Share Posted May 19, 2012 Poor bloke sacrifices his free time to serve on the jury,a nosy woman snitches and he faces a ridiculous fine.Would he have been fined if he was in the pub? He'd be fined anywhere. Smoking cannabis is an offence. Probably not as much - but the fine isn't for the fairly trivial offence of possession. He's been found in contempt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Convict Edd Posted May 19, 2012 Share Posted May 19, 2012 Poor bloke sacrifices his free time to serve on the jury,a nosy woman snitches and he faces a ridiculous fine.Would he have been fined if he was in the pub? Poor bugger was only smoking a joint! 450 quid fine?? Way way ott. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nagel Posted May 19, 2012 Share Posted May 19, 2012 He'd be fined anywhere. Smoking cannabis is an offence. Probably not as much - but the fine isn't for the fairly trivial offence of possession. He's been found in contempt. Is smoking cannabis an offence? I thought not and it's possession of cannabis that is the offence. For instance if you test positive for cannabis in your bloodstream you can't be charged for possession. But I think it's right he was charged and fined. If people agree to stand as part of a jury they should act responsibly because they will be making important and life changing decisions about the defendant and any victim. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harleyman Posted May 19, 2012 Share Posted May 19, 2012 He's as thick as a brick. If you gotta smoke a joint smoke it anywhere but outside of a court room. Serves him right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthernStar Posted May 19, 2012 Share Posted May 19, 2012 He wasn't fined for smoking a joint it was for contempt of court which is fair do's IMO, I've nothing against anyone having a smoke or a few bevies in their own time but he had a responsibility to the court in making a judgement on proceedings and being stoned might be seen to cloud his judgement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Green Web Posted May 20, 2012 Share Posted May 20, 2012 Bit of a silly thing to do especially if you're Asian next to court room, but poor bloke deserves a joint just for been on jury service never mind all the other carp he's had in hs life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonzo77 Posted May 20, 2012 Share Posted May 20, 2012 I think this fine has more to do with the situation rather than the substance. The guy is an idiot. I think the same sort of fine should be given to someone if they were drunk while serving jury duties. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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