[Omah]

Vicky Pryce jury discharged in Huhne speeding points case
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21516473

The jury trying Chris Huhne's former wife Vicky Pryce has failed to reach a verdict on a charge relating to speeding points she took for the ex-minister 10 years ago.

Ms Pryce, 60, of Clapham, London, faces a retrial before a new jury on Monday.

The judge said some of the questions from the jury had shown a "fundamental deficit in understanding" of its role.

Mr Justice Sweeney was speaking after a list of 10 questions was sent to him by the jury on Tuesday as its deliberations continued at Southwark Crown Court.

Speaking in court later on the same day in the jury's absence, the judge said: "In 30 years of criminal trials I have never come across this at this stage, never."

He also criticised the jury's lack of understanding of the trial process.

The jury had asked the judge questions about its basic duties after about 14 hours of deliberations and lengthy advice from him about how to assess the evidence.

The questions included seeking a definition of reaching a verdict "beyond reasonable doubt" - something the judge had given them in writing.

In another question, the jury asked if one of them could come to a verdict based on reasons that were not presented in court or supported by the evidence. A third question asked about Ms Pryce's religious convictions, even though this was not a matter in the trial.

Blimey, the IQ of some of the jury members must have been well below 80 .....

[Kizzy]

Did she not plead not guilty to coersion though,...that was the whole point wasn't it?

[Omah]

As I understand the case, which I've not been following closely, the charge is "perverting the course of justice" and, while Pryce has accepted that she committed an offence, by accepting three speeding penalty points for former Energy Secretary Huhne, she denies the charge of "perverting the course of justice", using the archaic defence of marital coercion, which is open to wives forced to commit a crime by their husband.

So ..... no, she did NOT "plead not guilty to coersion".

[Kizzy]

Originally Posted by Omah

As I understand the case, which I've not been following closely, the charge is "perverting the course of justice" and, while Pryce has accepted that she committed an offence, by accepting three speeding penalty points for former Energy Secretary Huhne, she denies the charge of "perverting the course of justice", using the archaic defence of marital coercion, which is open to wives forced to commit a crime by their husband.

So ..... no, she did NOT "plead not guilty to coersion".

Ok let me rephrase, she is not guilty due to marital coersion.

7. You have defined the defence of marital coercion at pg 5 [of judge's written directions] and also explained what does not fall within the defence by way of example. Please expand upon the definition (specifically "will was overborne"), provide examples of what may fall within the defence, and does this defence require violent or physical acts?

The judge said it did not require violence or physical acts. Referring to his written directions he said marital coercion meant that a wife "was so affected to be impelled to commit the offence because she truly believed she had no real choice"

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/fe...jority-verdict

[Omah]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

Ok let me rephrase, she is not guilty due to marital coersion.

7. You have defined the defence of marital coercion at pg 5 [of judge's written directions] and also explained what does not fall within the defence by way of example. Please expand upon the definition (specifically "will was overborne"), provide examples of what may fall within the defence, and does this defence require violent or physical acts?

The judge said it did not require violence or physical acts. Referring to his written directions he said marital coercion meant that a wife "was so affected to be impelled to commit the offence because she truly believed she had no real choice"

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/fe...jority-verdict

Correct .....

[Omah]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21575600

The jury at the retrial of ex-cabinet minister Chris Huhne's former wife Vicky Pryce has been told by the judge to listen to the case "afresh".

The new jury must base its decision on evidence heard in court, he said.

He told the jurors their predecessor's failure to reach a verdict was "irrelevant".

He said it was their task to "pool their common sense and experience of life" to reach a true verdict according to the evidence.

How the previous jury failed to understand that simple direction is beyond me .....

[Omah]

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news...minent-1732166

Britain's most prominent black judge has been arrested for allegedly lying about her involvement in leaking the Chris Huhne speeding points story to the press, a court heard today.

Constance Briscoe, a friend of Vicky Pryce, was held after telling police she had not been in contact with the media about the story, when it later appeared that she had, Pryce's retrial heard today.

Pryce, 60, denies perverting the course of justice, claiming Huhne coerced her into taking three points for him in 2003.

Last week a jury failed to reach a verdict in Pryce's trial, prompting a retrial at Southwark Crown Court which started yesterday.

The court has heard Pryce, helped by Briscoe, told journalists about the story to get revenge on Huhne after he left her for PR adviser Carina Trimingham in June 2010.

Prosecutor Andrew Edis QC today read jurors a statement from Detective Inspector Martin Passmore explaining why certain people had not been called as witnesses in the case.

"Ms Briscoe has provided statements to the police in this case but during the investigation it became apparent that she may have lied about her involvement with the press and that she denied having any contact with the Mail on Sunday or any other media organisation in relation to this story," his statement said.

"Ms Pryce has not been arrested or interviewed in relation to that allegation.

"For this reason Ms Briscoe has been arrested and is currently under investigation by the police.

"Ms Briscoe could therefore no longer be relied upon as a witness of truth and on October 2, 2012 the Crown Prosecution Service took the decision not to call Ms Briscoe to give evidence in the case."

Murkier and murkier ..... :suspect

[Omah]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21674687

The jury in the retrial of Vicky Pryce, the ex-wife of former Lib Dem cabinet minister Chris Huhne, has retired to consider its verdict.

Ms Pryce denies perverting the course of justice by taking speeding points in 2003 from her former husband, claiming he coerced her into doing so.

Huhne, 58, who resigned as an MP, has already admitted the same offence.

The jury in Ms Pryce's original trial was discharged by the judge after failing to reach a verdict.

Shortly before asking the South Crown Court jury to begin considering the verdict, the trial judge Mr Justice Sweeney told the jury of seven men and five women that there was "no pressure of time".

He added they should elect a foreman and listen to each others' views in order to come to a "true verdict".

Let's hope that they have understood the judge's directions .....

[arista]

She is a Nasty Bitch

[Nedusa]

This is a very shaky defence..... it pre-supposes a wife can be compelled against her wishes to commit a criminal act otherwise face unspecified consequences.where would you draw the line on this type of logic ??

If you take it to extremes it allows a wife a legal defence to practically everything her husband makes her do. Maybe time for this defence of Marital coercion to be scrapped...

By the way I have not been posting much recently as i'm in Australia for a month. Cannot get used to the 36 Deg Weather...too much Sunshine !!!!

[Kizzy]

It's what happened though, he was aware that his career would be damaged by the scandal associated with a law break and he coerced her to take the points...
She was worried about it too, their income and social standing maybe?
It was a very silly thing to do but he did put her in an impossible position at the time.
The only reason it's got to this stage is due to the dubious way it was exposed, that did her no favours.

[arista]

Found Guilty


Nasty Bitch said nothing


Live all media

http://news.sky.com/story/1061536/vi...s-found-guilty

Omah update your title
to include this nasty Phone Tapping bitch





Go To Prison you Nasty Woman

[Omah]

OK Updated .....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21496566

The former wife of ex-cabinet minister Chris Huhne has been found guilty of perverting the course of justice by taking speeding points on his behalf.

Vicky Pryce, 60, who had claimed Huhne had forced her to take the points over the incident on the M11 in 2003, was convicted at Southwark Crown Court.

The judge warned the pair faced jail, while the Crown Prosecution Service said it would try to recover costs.

Huhne, 58, resigned as a Liberal Democrat MP after admitting the charge.

The verdict, after 12 hours of deliberations, came in a retrial.