De Four v The State

Details

Type: Case

Citation: [1999] 1 WLR 1731, PC

Summary: Capital murder trial — No material misdirection in relation to lies told by appellant — At end of summing up clerk of court asked jury whether had already reached verdict or if wished to retire — Jury retired and recalled after 3 hours and given additional 30 minutes to reach verdict — Within 20 minutes jury returned guilty verdict — Clerk’s intervention had created pressure on jury and was irregularity — Imposition of time limit was material irregularity — Conviction quashed

Author:

Court: PC

Jurisdiction: Trinidad and Tobago

Date 1999