When considering whether there was a real danger that a jury had been unduly influenced by extraneous matters the court had a clear duty to establish the factual basis for the jury's concerns before deciding whether the jury should be discharged. Jurors had to be asked directly whether their deliberations had been influenced to such an extent that it had interfered with their duty as jurors.

CA (Crim Div) (Kay LJ, Silber J, Judge Mellor)

09/10/2000