Attorney General v Stephen Pardon

Hanif Mussa has acted for Her Majesty’s Attorney General in an application to the Divisional Court for an Order of Committal for contempt contrary to section 8(1) of the Contempt of Court Act 1981. The application was brought against a juror who, during the course of a Crown Court trial, disclosed particulars of the jury’s deliberations to a defendant in the criminal proceedings. The allegation of contempt was upheld and the juror was committed to prison. The hearing took place before the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Judge, who emphasised the seriousness with which the Divisional Court would view any incident which tended to undermine the system of trial by jury.