Juries: 'Fade factor on media coverage proved'

 

 Key findings of a new Ministry of Justice research report on juries shows that the "fade factor"  - whereby jurors recollection of media coverage of crimes diminishes in the period leading up to the trial -  does exist.

But the report Are Juries Fair? says that a fifth of jurors find it difficult to put media coverage out of their minds.

Some jurors admitted to using the internet to look for information during trails. The report found little evidence of unfairness by juries.

Key points of the report, as regards the media, are:

• The fade factor exists. Most jurors that recalled media coverage of their case recalled coverage published during, not before, the trial. But a third of jurors on high profile cases recalled some pre-trial coverage.  
• Most jurors who recalled media coverage did not recall any emphasis in the coverage. 
• A fifth of jurors on high profile cases said it was difficult to put the media coverage out of their minds. 
• More jurors said they saw information on the internet during the trial than admitted looking for information on the internet during the trial. 
• More jurors on high profile cases admitted to looking for information about their case on the internet during trial than jurors in standard cases. 
•  Most jurors who looked for information on the internet during trial were over 30.