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Lee Rigby murder trial: jurors warned against 'preconceived beliefs or ideas' Lee Rigby murder trial: jurors warned against 'preconceived beliefs or ideas'
(about 3 hours later)
Jurors in the trial of two men accused of murdering the soldier Lee Rigby have been instructed not to research the case or view it with "any preconceived beliefs or ideas".Jurors in the trial of two men accused of murdering the soldier Lee Rigby have been instructed not to research the case or view it with "any preconceived beliefs or ideas".
The jury-selection process in the murder trial began at the Old Bailey on Thursday morning with a warning from the judge, Mr Justice Sweeney, that jurors should base their verdicts only on the evidence heard in court.The jury-selection process in the murder trial began at the Old Bailey on Thursday morning with a warning from the judge, Mr Justice Sweeney, that jurors should base their verdicts only on the evidence heard in court.
Michael Adebolajo, 28, and Michael Adebowale, 22, are accused of murdering Rigby, 25, a drummer and machine-gunner in the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, on 22 May 2013 as he walked back to Woolwich military barracks, south London, in broad daylight. Michael Adebolajo, 28, and Michael Adebowale, 22, are accused of murdering Rigby, 25, a drummer and machine-gunner in the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, on 22 May 2013 as he walked back to Woolwich military barracks, south London.
The trial of the pair – who deny murder – is set to begin on Friday morning in the oak-panelled court two of the Old Bailey in central London.The trial of the pair – who deny murder – is set to begin on Friday morning in the oak-panelled court two of the Old Bailey in central London.
Sweeney told a panel of potential jurors that the trial is expected to conclude by Christmas or "at the very latest" in early January.Sweeney told a panel of potential jurors that the trial is expected to conclude by Christmas or "at the very latest" in early January.
He added: "It is vitally important that because each of you has the potential to be one of the jurors in this trial that you conduct yourselves accordingly.He added: "It is vitally important that because each of you has the potential to be one of the jurors in this trial that you conduct yourselves accordingly.
"That means it is vitally important you do not go away and start trying to research into the case for yourselves let alone that you should try contact anyone in the case.""That means it is vitally important you do not go away and start trying to research into the case for yourselves let alone that you should try contact anyone in the case."
"The reason for that very strong request that you do not do that is because the jurors who try this case must do so impartially and thus based only on the evidence those jurors are going to hear in this courtroom and absolutely nothing else.""The reason for that very strong request that you do not do that is because the jurors who try this case must do so impartially and thus based only on the evidence those jurors are going to hear in this courtroom and absolutely nothing else."
Adebowale and Adebolajo sat in a glass-panelled dock in the centre of the court along with eight members of security staff for the hour-long hearing.Adebowale and Adebolajo sat in a glass-panelled dock in the centre of the court along with eight members of security staff for the hour-long hearing.
A panel of potential jurors was handed a list of four questions and told by Sweeney that they may be excluded from the case if they answered yes to any of them.A panel of potential jurors was handed a list of four questions and told by Sweeney that they may be excluded from the case if they answered yes to any of them.
They were asked: "Have you or any person with whom you have regular and close personal contact been in the vicinity of a terrorist incident?They were asked: "Have you or any person with whom you have regular and close personal contact been in the vicinity of a terrorist incident?
"Have you or any person with whom you have regular and close personal contact been employed in the armed forces, police force, prison service, security services or Crown Prosecution Service?"Have you or any person with whom you have regular and close personal contact been employed in the armed forces, police force, prison service, security services or Crown Prosecution Service?
"Is there any reason arising from beliefs, past or present occupation, or any other matter that you feel may inhibit the essential requirement to return impartial verdicts according to the evidence in this trial? In particular, do you or any member of your family or a relative or close friend, hold political or religious views of such strength that they might materially influence your consideration of the case?"Is there any reason arising from beliefs, past or present occupation, or any other matter that you feel may inhibit the essential requirement to return impartial verdicts according to the evidence in this trial? In particular, do you or any member of your family or a relative or close friend, hold political or religious views of such strength that they might materially influence your consideration of the case?
"Is there some other compelling reason requiring you to be excused?""Is there some other compelling reason requiring you to be excused?"
The potential jurors were whittled down to 14 before being told to reflect overnight to make sure there was "absolutely nothing" that precluded them from trying Adebowale and Adebolajo.The potential jurors were whittled down to 14 before being told to reflect overnight to make sure there was "absolutely nothing" that precluded them from trying Adebowale and Adebolajo.
Sweeney said: "A fair trial is the right of all in this country. To state the obvious, the role of the jury is a vitally important one in exercising the fulfilment of that right.Sweeney said: "A fair trial is the right of all in this country. To state the obvious, the role of the jury is a vitally important one in exercising the fulfilment of that right.
"It is the jury of 12 people chosen at random who are the judges of the facts and who alone decide on the true verdicts according to the evidence in the case they are trying."It is the jury of 12 people chosen at random who are the judges of the facts and who alone decide on the true verdicts according to the evidence in the case they are trying.
"Sitting in judge of our fellow citizens is one of the most important duties any of us can perform and must be undertaken unless there are compelling reasons that require a juror to be excused."Sitting in judge of our fellow citizens is one of the most important duties any of us can perform and must be undertaken unless there are compelling reasons that require a juror to be excused.
"It is an essential part of a fair trial that jurors who try the case must have no connection with it whether directly or indirectly and must be able to reach true verdicts based on the evidence rather than any preconceived beliefs or ideas.""It is an essential part of a fair trial that jurors who try the case must have no connection with it whether directly or indirectly and must be able to reach true verdicts based on the evidence rather than any preconceived beliefs or ideas."
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