Woman who advised jurors ‘you are not certified to convict a rapist’ fined
A High Court juror who Googled information about rape sentences and passed it on to fellow jury members has been found guilty of contempt of court.
Cleaner Julie Williamson was fined £400 after the High Court in Dundee heard she tried to persuade other jurors not to find the accused guilty.
Her forbidden online research led her to tell jury members that a rapist could be jailed for up to 19 years and that they were not qualified to make that decision.
The court was told that her behaviour had almost led to the collapse of the trial and a huge cost to the public purse as a result. Williamson was reported by another jury member on the final day of the trial of Adam Jenkins.
They informed the clerk of court about Williamson’s research and her attempts to persuade jurors that they were not qualified to take a decision which could lead to such a long prison sentence.
Julie Williamson, a juror at High Court in Dundee (seen) who Googled information about rape sentences and passed it on to fellow jury members, has been found guilty of contempt of court and fined £400
She admitted doing the forbidden research when spoken to by the clerk, but downplayed what she had done when initially tackled by Judge Simon Collins, KC.
Williamson was instructed to take legal advice and returned some time later, while Judge Collins finished his address to the jury and sent them out to deliberate.
Counsel for Williamson, Ian Paterson, KC, said: ‘She lives a quiet life. She has two cats and a son who works offshore.
‘She was quite tearful about the whole matter.
‘She feels dreadful. She has said she wasn’t trying to influence the decision-making process.
‘She feels terrible and so sorry for what’s happened.’
Finding Williamson guilty of contempt, Judge Collins said: ‘She should feel remorse for this because the directions were clear and she chose to ignore them.’
He added. ‘Her attitude this morning was certainly not remorseful.
‘I take it that on further reflection she has recognised the error of her ways and the serious consequences of what she’s done.
‘If this trial had collapsed at enormous public expense – and I had proceeded on the basis she was seeking to influence jurors to reach a decision on the basis of internet searches she was clearly told more than once she should not be carrying out – the question of a prison sentence may have arisen.’
Jenkins, 38, of Kettering, Northamptonshire, was found guilty of raping a woman at an address in Ladybank, Fife, in May 2020. He was also found guilty of two charges of sexual assault.
The former professional bareknuckle boxer – who previously served a 78-month sentence for assault and robbery in England – was remanded in custody for reports and will be sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow on October 29.
