R vs the Morrison brothes( 2008) Jury intimidation and a knife found in the court's public gallery.

Murder trial jury 'was threatened' before verdict

by Benedict Moore-Bridger
01.07.08 Evening Standard

 

 

Police have launched an investigation after the trial of a murdered London teenager almost collapsed when it was revealed jurors had been threatened as they travelled home.

An Old Bailey judge ordered the inquiry after jurors were apparently subjected to intimidation while deliberating the murder of 17-year-old Bienda Litambola.

Three jurors said they had been approached at St Paul's station near the court last Friday and told: "Hope you can sleep at night."

The trial of brothers Michael Morrison, 21, and Larry Morrison, 23, accused of kicking and beating the student to death with a dog chain, was almost derailed when jurors were asked if they felt able to continue in light of the intimidation.

Jurors had earlier passed a note to the judge describing the incident. It read: "There were three of us at St Paul's station approaching the barriers when we were spotted by three of the public gallery. One of them alerted the others that we were members of the jury.

"They adjusted their pace to come closer. We deliberately went to a different escalator to avoid interaction.

"On the way down one of the group made an indirect comment which included the phrase 'hope you can sleep at night'. It was clearly directed at our group. There was no interaction back."

The brothers were convicted of murder by a majority of 10 to two after 14 hours of deliberations yesterday.

Judge Richard Hawkins said it was a "very serious matter", adding: "There should be an inquiry as to the approach to members of the jury."

Jurors were allowed to leave court via a back exit following the verdicts, and the judge ordered that the public gallery remain shut to all but close relatives of the defendants for sentencing tomorrow.

He said: "A knife was taken off someone who was in the public gallery so things have been pretty serious."

The Morrisons, both from Victoria Docks, face life in jail for attacking the 17-year-old in Canning Town in November last year.

Bienda, a student, was beaten to the ground and hit with a dog chain following a row with the brothers over his girlfriend. One of the attackers was heard to say to Bienda, as he lay bleeding on the ground: "That's what you get, you deserved it."

Michael Morrison had earlier that day threatened to "stab him in the face and leave holes".

The victim's mother broke down in tears as the verdicts were returned and collapsed as she left the courtroom.