Facebook in the Dock
Contempt proceedings take place today against a juror who allegedly contacted a defendant through Facebook during a multimillion-pound drugs trial in Britain.
Britain's attorney general Dominic Grieve is asking the High Court in London to jail Joanne Fraill and an acquitted defendant, Jamie Sewart.
The trial in which Ms Fraill (40) sat as juror took place in Manchester last year and involved multiple charges and defendants.
It was one of a series of four trials estimated to have cost £6 million and had run for 10 weeks.
Ms Sewart (34) of Bolton, faces contempt proceedings because she is alleged to have asked Ms Fraill, of Blackley, Manchester, for details of the jury’s deliberations in relation to a charge they were still considering.
The case is being heard by Lord Judge, the Lord Chief Justice, sitting with Mr Justice Ouseley and Mr Justice Holroyde.
Later the same judges will hear an appeal by one of the defendants, convicted drug dealer
Gary Knox.
He is challenging his conviction on the basis of alleged jury misconduct.
Knox (35) was jailed for six years for conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office.
The court was told that he bought sensitive information on drug dealers from police in return for a £20,000 BMW and Premier League match tickets.
A police officer, Phil Berry (44) who received the gifts and admitted the same charge, was jailed for four years.
