The man accused of trying to bribe a juror at the Antonie Dixon murder trial has appeared in court.
Dixon is behind bars waiting to be sentenced on murder and grievous bodily harm charges, but a man who claimed he was Dixon's cousin is also in custody after he allegedly tried bribing a member of the Dixon trial jury.
The trial had been going for three weeks when police say Andre Mail paid a visit to the home of juror number 2. There it is alleged he asked the juror about his family and occupation, saying he did not want to put pressure on him but gesturing that he would give him money in exchange for the right verdict and telling him not to tell anyone.
Mail, 28, has pleaded not guilty to a charge of interfering with a jury.
ONE News was not allowed to film him in court but the auto parts dismantler from South Auckland has been remanded in custody until his next appearance in a month.
Legal experts say changes to the jury system should mean the public can have full confidence in the system.
*From mid 2009 majority verdicts will be allowed with only 11 of
the 12 jurors having to agree.
*Where there is a potential for jurors to be intimidated, the judge
can decide a case alone without a jury.
*Defendants will still be allowed to see a jury list that includes
names and addresses, but will no longer be allowed to keep a
copy.
The Criminal Bar Association says jury intimidation could be further avoided by removing personal details from the list.
"It may be that there is no need to have their address on the list of jurors in the panel given to lawyers and the accused," spokesman Graeme Newell says.
The Law Commission says jury intimidation is rare and the public should have full confidence in our jury system.
