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Man charged with rape, murder of Jill Meagher

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It is my understanding that a high percentage of juries, especially for long trials, are made up, basically, of pensioners.

Many persons in this age group are not active participants in Facebook and other social media.

I would have thought that the jury discovery process could relativly easily reduce the prospect of a bunch of social media junkies deciding his fate.

One thing I see 0% prospect, would be they say "you cant get a fair trial" so we are going to let you go.
He might just have to wait around a bit (on remand) till he gets his go
 
MrBurns said:
The Law will have to adapt, immediately, they cannot control social media, full stop.
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They can to a certain degree. And most people will follow the law rather than deliberately break it. At the moment though, the majority of the public is probably unaware of what can and can't be said in order to avoid prejudicing someone's trial. Also, remember that this crime has been big news in Melbourne but in other parts of Australia, and possibly even Victoria, most people have not been following it closely on Facebook etc. Her remembrance page on FB only had 44,000 "Likes", so it's highly unlikely that an impartial jury could not be found, IMO.
 
McLovin said:
They can to a certain degree. And most people will follow the law rather than deliberately break it. At the moment though, the majority of the public is probably unaware of what can and can't be said in order to avoid prejudicing someone's trial. Also, remember that this crime has been big news in Melbourne but in other parts of Australia, and possibly even Victoria, most people have not been following it closely on Facebook etc. Her remembrance page on FB only had 44,000 "Likes", so it's highly unlikely that an impartial jury could not be found, IMO.
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There's plenty of cases where an independant jury would be hard to find, any high profile case would be hard but in this instance the defence will have a field day, at great expense to the State as it will drag on forever.
 
awg said:
It is my understanding that a high percentage of juries, especially for long trials, are made up, basically, of pensioners.

Many persons in this age group are not active participants in Facebook and other social media.
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I'm signing up for Facebook now if it will get me out of jury duty - I've been called up four times already!

It is going to be hard though now to keep information about defendents out of general circulation.
 
**Update on this case**


Accused Jill Meagher killer and rapist Adrian Ernest Bayley will fight charges

MORE REPORTS: The man accused of the rape and murder of Jill Meagher - in a case that shocked Melbourne - will contest the charges.

Adrian Ernest Bayley, 41, appeared in Melbourne Magistrates' Court via video link for a short committal mention at noon today, where it was confirmed a two-day committal was listed for March 12 and 13.

The court heard an interpreter would be needed for the first day of that preliminary hearing.

Mr Bayley, charged with raping and murdering Ms Meagher in Brunswick on September 22 last year, sat mostly mute throughout today's ten-minute hearing.
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