A Dundee woman who failed to turn up for a trial was told by a sheriff that jury service is a duty and not ”an option or preference”.
Juror Sarah Carr (22) was called back before Sheriff Alastair Duff on Monday after missing the second day of a trial last week to look after her sick grandmother.
The court heard that Carr, of Duns Crescent, had been contacted by her 71-year-old grandmother, who had complained of feeling unwell.
Carr’s solicitor Ian Myles said: ”Her mother was on holiday in Cuba and she tried to contact her sisters but one has a newborn child and the other was working. In her panic she attempted to help her gran.”
Mr Myles added Carr had contacted the court to tell them this but did not understand the ”nature of the court” and she now realised it was a ”serious matter”.
He said: ”She dealt with it in the wrong manner and she apologises profusely to the court. It has been explained to her that the wheels of justice would not turn if every juror acted as she did.”
The court was told the trial reached its conclusion that day without Carr on the agreement of the Crown and the defence. Sheriff Duff told Carr he would not hold her in contempt of court.
He said: ”Jury service is a duty, a responsibility and a commitment and has to be seen through to a conclusion. Barring from insurmountable difficulty it is not a choice, an option or a preference it is a civic responsibility”.