Lindy Chamberlain / The Role of the Jury Flashcards
What is a jury?
A jury is a randomly selected panel of sworn adult member (12-15) of the community who determine a verdict of guilty or not guilty of an alleged offender.
who is eligible for jury duty?
Potential jurors must be Australian citizens, over the age of 18, must have a minimum understanding of English and they must be mentally capable.
What are the advantages of a jury?
A jury represents the democratic principles of society (community members can actively participate in the criminal justice system).
Juries take human emotion into account (more compassionate, emotionally relate to the defendant.)
Twelve heads is better than one singular judge.
What are the disadvantages of the jury?
Having a jury is incredibly costly.
A jury can find it difficult to understand complex legal matters.
Due to eligibility criteria, a jury cannot be considered a true cross - section and representation of society.
What is a coronial inquest?
A coronial inquest is an inquiry conducted by a Coroner to determine the cause of death. It is a civil proceeding and therefore the facts must be proven on the balance of probabilities.
What was the offence in the Chamberlain case?
Murder of Azaria Chamberlain
Where and when did the death of Azaria occur?
Ayers Rock, Northern Territory
Saturday August 16 1980
Who were the other members of the Chamberlain family?
Micheal, Aidan and Reagen Chamberlain
What did the second coronial inquest suggest?
It recommended Lindy be charged with murder and Micheal be charged as an accessory after the fact.
What were the three essential strands of the Crown’s Case against the Chamberlains?
- Blood was discovered in the front seat of the Chamberlain’s car.
- Azaria’s jumpsuit had been cut by a pair of scissors and had blood stains resembling a small female handprint.
- Dingoes were not capable of carrying and handling Azaria in the manner the defence was suggesting.
What was the role of the media in the case?
There was unprecedented media interest in the Chamberlain trial.
Much of the reporting was done in a sensationalised fashion.
The media had a great deal of influence in the ‘court of public opinion’.
What were the problems with the jury in the trial?
The jury sat through days of confusing and boring expert testimony.
Many jury members were swayed by the inherent media presence.
Many jury members had made up their minds about Lindy and the death of Azaria, they had preconceived ideas and thoughts.
What was the final result of the case?
Lindy was found guilty. Her appeals were dismissed, she was finally cleared (or exonerated) by a royal commission.
