County juries easier on defendants (From Western Telegraph)

County juries easier on defendants

DEFENDANTS who plead not guilty at Haverfordwest Crown Court may have a higher-than-average chance of being cleared by a jury.

Pembrokeshire juries acquitted 70% of defendants in 2000 - compared to the national average of 68%.

The figure was described as high by a spokesperson at the Lord Chancellors Department.

But the spokesman said the figure may be linked to the relatively small number of cases heard.

Only 39 not guilty defendants appeared before Haverfordwest Crown Court in 2000.

The jury acquitted 16 and the judge dismissed another 16 cases. Seven defendants were found guilty.

Juries in Dolgellau cleared 100% of defendants who pleaded not guilty - although they only had two cases during the whole year.

Liverpool Crown Court, which heard over 1,000 cases, cleared 64% of defendants while Manchester Crown Court acquitted 59%.