Thatcham juror Suzanne Asquith accused of researching case online

A WOMAN juror has been charged with illegally researching a case during a trial.

Suzanne Asquith appeared in the dock at Reading Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, October 25.

The 55-year-old, of Battalion Way, Thatcham, is accused of, while being a member of a jury trying an issue in a case, namely R v Parsons and Parsons at Reading Crown Court on September 1 last year, having researched the case during the trial period by searching for information relating to it on the internet.

The offence carries a maximum penalty of two years imprisonment and/or a fine.

Jurors are warned at the start of each trial that they should try the case only on the evidence presented to them in court and that to undertake independent research is an offence.

The charge is one that can only be heard by a judge sitting at a crown court.

Ms Asquith, who was legally represented at the hearing by Belinda Knight, was therefore told the case was being sent to Reading Crown Court on a date to be fixed.

She was meanwhile released on unconditional bail.