Lin family murder trial jury discharged after judge taken ill

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/23/lin-family-trial-jury-discharged-after-judge-taken-ill

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The jury in the high-profile Lin family murder trial has been discharged for a second time.

Robert Xie is accused of killing his brother-in-law Min Lin, Lin’s wife, Lily Lin, their young sons, Henry and Terry, and Lily’s sister, Irene Lin, in North Epping early on 18 July, 2009.

He has pleaded not guilty.

The judge presiding over Xie’s NSW supreme court murder trial was rushed to hospital suddenly last week.

Jury members who have been bracing for a six-month trial were told on Tuesday that justice Peter Johnson was too unwell to continue overseeing the trial, and that they would be discharged.

“Justice Johnson is of the view that he can no longer continue with the trial,” the chief judge at common law, Clifton Hoeben, told the jurors.

“Your task is over, and I thank you for the work that you’ve done thus far.”

The news came five weeks into Xie’s second trial.

The first trial was aborted after new evidence was introduced midway through.

A new trial is expected to begin next year.