Update on the British farmer shooting the intruder. If the call wasn't a fake, it's really sickening that the juror folded, not because of a threat, but because she was worried about the repercussions if Martin was cleared.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/et?ac=000141109560173&rtmo=LlLlLNLd&atmo=99999999&pg=/et/00/4/21/nmart21.html
ISSUE 1792 Friday 21 April 2000
I was too scared to acquit Martin, says juror
By David Sapsted
(These are links: Grandmother of victim says sentence was too harsh
I'd shoot a raider in my home, says Heston
Quentin Letts: When zero tolerance means do nothing)
CLAIMS that jurors felt intimidated when they convicted Tony Martin of the murder of a 16-year-old burglar at his farm were being referred to the police and Crown Prosecution Service last night. The move follows an anonymous call to a local radio station.
The caller, claiming to have been one of the jurors, told Radio Broadland in Norfolk yesterday that she had been too scared to acquit Martin. She indicated that she had been one of the 10 who voted to convict him of murder, thus sentencing him to automatic life imprisonment, because she was worried about the repercussions if he were cleared.
She said: "The decision will remain with me for the rest of my life." The caller did not go on the air and, on the advice of lawyers, Radio Broadland declined to discuss the matter.
As support grew for the 55-year-old farmer who shot dead Fred Barras last August, his solicitor, Nick Makin, said that allegations of attempted jury "nobbling" were likely to be a central plank of an appeal against conviction, to be lodged next week. He said: "We do not know if the radio call was a hoax or was genuine and we are doing all we can to ascertain that. If it turns out to be genuine, it is incredible news.
"We are now asking for any information from any member of the jury who feels that he or she may have been intimidated." Any such juror should immediately contact officials at Norwich Crown Court, where the trial was held, Mr Makin said.
The radio caller made her allegations during a phone-in when the overwhelming sentiment was in favour of Martin's right to protect himself by shooting at Barras and his 30-year-old accomplice, Brendon Fearon. But it is understood that, before the call, a separate inquiry had started into an attempt at nobbling. That is believed to centre on a specific attempt to influence a juror during the trial.
If either claim is true, the controversial majority verdicts which convicted Martin of murdering Barras and wounding Fearon would inevitably be thrown out. Mr Justice Owen, the judge, emphasised throughout the eight-day trial that jurors must immediately inform the police if they felt in danger of being coerced. One juror did telephone the police last weekend, but this appears to have been a false alarm. Jurors also mentioned to police that they had been "eyed" by four men as they entered court.
Norfolk police declined to comment and said that any claims of jury interference were handled by the Lord Chancellor's Department. During the trial, the jury heard of threats made against Martin, including a £60,000 contract to have him killed. There have also been anonymous calls to burn down his remote and dilapidated farmhouse at Emneth, as well as threats against the life of Darren Bark, 34, the burglary gang's driver.
Peter Tidey, of the Crown Prosecution Service in Norwich, confirmed that Martin's solicitors had been in touch with him. He said that the security of jurors had been an issue throughout the trial. All three burglars had links to a travellers' community based in Newark, Notts. It is claimed that threats have been made against Bark for leaving the scene after the shooting.
John Kendall, a solicitor representing Bark, who is serving 30 months for conspiracy to burgle Martin's farm, said in a statement yesterday: "Darren would like to extend his most sincere apologies to the Barras family for his involvement in this tragic incident."
Fearon, who received extensive shotgun injuries to the legs after Martin had caught him and Barras breaking into his home at night, was also believed to have been the target for reprisals until it became clear that he had not intentionally abandoned the teenager to die.
Titles of associated links:
20 April 2000: Farmer who killed burglar jailed for life
19 April 2000: Farmer trial judge sums up
18 April 2000: Farmer 'executed burglar'
15 April 2000: Murder case farmer faces underworld death threat
14 December 1999: £20,000-a-month guard on empty farm
24 October 1999: Let victims shoot rural intruders, says lawyer
24 August 1999: Farmer charged with murder as neighbours pledge help
24 August 1999: 'Lovable rogue son didn't deserve to die'
23 August 1999: Farmer held after man is shot dead
------------------
The New World Order has a Third Reich odor.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/et?ac=000141109560173&rtmo=LlLlLNLd&atmo=99999999&pg=/et/00/4/21/nmart21.html
ISSUE 1792 Friday 21 April 2000
I was too scared to acquit Martin, says juror
By David Sapsted
(These are links: Grandmother of victim says sentence was too harsh
I'd shoot a raider in my home, says Heston
Quentin Letts: When zero tolerance means do nothing)
CLAIMS that jurors felt intimidated when they convicted Tony Martin of the murder of a 16-year-old burglar at his farm were being referred to the police and Crown Prosecution Service last night. The move follows an anonymous call to a local radio station.
The caller, claiming to have been one of the jurors, told Radio Broadland in Norfolk yesterday that she had been too scared to acquit Martin. She indicated that she had been one of the 10 who voted to convict him of murder, thus sentencing him to automatic life imprisonment, because she was worried about the repercussions if he were cleared.
She said: "The decision will remain with me for the rest of my life." The caller did not go on the air and, on the advice of lawyers, Radio Broadland declined to discuss the matter.
As support grew for the 55-year-old farmer who shot dead Fred Barras last August, his solicitor, Nick Makin, said that allegations of attempted jury "nobbling" were likely to be a central plank of an appeal against conviction, to be lodged next week. He said: "We do not know if the radio call was a hoax or was genuine and we are doing all we can to ascertain that. If it turns out to be genuine, it is incredible news.
"We are now asking for any information from any member of the jury who feels that he or she may have been intimidated." Any such juror should immediately contact officials at Norwich Crown Court, where the trial was held, Mr Makin said.
The radio caller made her allegations during a phone-in when the overwhelming sentiment was in favour of Martin's right to protect himself by shooting at Barras and his 30-year-old accomplice, Brendon Fearon. But it is understood that, before the call, a separate inquiry had started into an attempt at nobbling. That is believed to centre on a specific attempt to influence a juror during the trial.
If either claim is true, the controversial majority verdicts which convicted Martin of murdering Barras and wounding Fearon would inevitably be thrown out. Mr Justice Owen, the judge, emphasised throughout the eight-day trial that jurors must immediately inform the police if they felt in danger of being coerced. One juror did telephone the police last weekend, but this appears to have been a false alarm. Jurors also mentioned to police that they had been "eyed" by four men as they entered court.
Norfolk police declined to comment and said that any claims of jury interference were handled by the Lord Chancellor's Department. During the trial, the jury heard of threats made against Martin, including a £60,000 contract to have him killed. There have also been anonymous calls to burn down his remote and dilapidated farmhouse at Emneth, as well as threats against the life of Darren Bark, 34, the burglary gang's driver.
Peter Tidey, of the Crown Prosecution Service in Norwich, confirmed that Martin's solicitors had been in touch with him. He said that the security of jurors had been an issue throughout the trial. All three burglars had links to a travellers' community based in Newark, Notts. It is claimed that threats have been made against Bark for leaving the scene after the shooting.
John Kendall, a solicitor representing Bark, who is serving 30 months for conspiracy to burgle Martin's farm, said in a statement yesterday: "Darren would like to extend his most sincere apologies to the Barras family for his involvement in this tragic incident."
Fearon, who received extensive shotgun injuries to the legs after Martin had caught him and Barras breaking into his home at night, was also believed to have been the target for reprisals until it became clear that he had not intentionally abandoned the teenager to die.
Titles of associated links:
20 April 2000: Farmer who killed burglar jailed for life
19 April 2000: Farmer trial judge sums up
18 April 2000: Farmer 'executed burglar'
15 April 2000: Murder case farmer faces underworld death threat
14 December 1999: £20,000-a-month guard on empty farm
24 October 1999: Let victims shoot rural intruders, says lawyer
24 August 1999: Farmer charged with murder as neighbours pledge help
24 August 1999: 'Lovable rogue son didn't deserve to die'
23 August 1999: Farmer held after man is shot dead
------------------
The New World Order has a Third Reich odor.
