BEST MAN ON JURY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20075, 23 October 1939, Page 12

BEST MAN ON JURY

RISK OF MISSING WEDDING EXCUSE SOUGHT LATE PREDICAMENT OVERCOME An unusual case of a juror asking to be excused after a jury had been empanelled occurred in the Supreme Court in Wellington. The request was made by a man who said he had to be best man at a wedding to be held out of 'own at G o’clock that evening. It might have been that he took a chance of not being called or if lie was called of being challenged, but the application was left too late. By the time the man’s name was called, although the Crown had stood aside only one or two jurors, the defence had almost exhausted its right of challenge. He was the tenth juror empanelled. “Once a jury is empanelled I have no power to alter the panel," said Mr Justice Blair. “I am so sorry, but you should have spoken before.” Counsel and His Honour were still seeking a way out of tiro difficulty when it was staled that the case would probably finish by 3.30 p.m.. i thus releasing the juror for the wed- ‘ ding.