choosing a jury

[nailit]

Furthur to my question a few posts below...
Im thinking of choosing to have a trial by jury (pleading not guilty).
Can I choose to accept or reject jury members? How does it work if I have a choice, will they be presented to the court one by one for me to say if I accept them or not? Obviously if there is someone I know I presume that I will have to say?
Any answers appriciated, thanks

[jno]

if they know you, they're the ones who should say.

[woofgang]

http://news.bbc.co.uk.../magazine/7180764.stm

you have no say. Your barrister can object but the judge decides whether or not to accept the objection. The only criterion is whether or not the juror can be impartial.

[nailit]

Thank you jno and woofgang.
Can i (or my barrister) object to someone who doesnt know me personally but who knows me by sight (from the pub for instance or someone who regularly serves me in a shop or post office)

[ronnietoon]

woofgang is right

as for anyone knowing you even in the slightest like for example a bus driver you have seen a few times your barrister will ask and more than likely the judge will agree to a change.

[EDDIE51]

I have looked at your profile and your case is a complicated one , have you actually been charged now ? if so with what exact offence ?
I am still worried that your solicitor is not giving good advice , he/ she should have explained the jury selection process by now if you really do want to plead not guilty .
I am asking if you have actually been charged as I still think that due to your mental condition a trial would not be in anyone's intrest , have you got a doctors opinion yet ? Let us know what the exact position is please so we can try to be of more help.

[EDDIE51]

I have just carefully reread you previous question and I do not think pleading not guilty is an option . You state that you have no memory of the actual event (stabbing) so you can not offer any viable defence .
I have to say again PLEASE get an opinion from another firm of solicitors as the one you are with now seem to be worse than useless !
If what you say is true it should never get as far as a trial so the question of jury selection should not arise.

[nailit]

thanks all. EDDIE51, yes i have been charged and im in crown court on friday to put a plea in. Ive seen the guy who will be representing me now and he seems more clued up than the other briefs that ive seen. He is now in possesion of my doctors note that states that my mental health isnt good. He seems to wonder whether ive commited an offence at all(says its borderline).Although my memory of the day is hazy the fact is that my nephew has stated that I was already holding the knife when the police saw me as opposed to the polices statment that i picked it up when they entered the room (id already self harmed with it). He seems to think that a jury would not find me guilty as there is doubt about when i actually had the knife plus my suicidal state at the time. On the other hand I could plead guilty bt with mitigating circumstances.
Any replies appriciated but I might not be able to reply immidiatly as i have limited access to a computer.
thanks

[EDDIE51]

My advice would be to plead guilty and ask for all your problems to be taken into consideration , you will almost certainly be given help rather than punishment. Thank heaven you finally have a solicitor who seems to be 'on the ball' . The most likedly thing to happen is that your solicitor will ask for an adjournment for more reports to be made. Hopefully the court will see that you need help and not punishment. It all depends on your solicitor I still think that this charge should never have been bought , but sometimes the only way to get help in situations like yours is to let the case go to trial and for the judge to order the authorities to give the help you need.
Please be assured that in this case there is NO CHANCE of you going to prison I an certain it will end by you getting the help you need.
I will be thinking of you and hoping for the best :-)