What the jury heard on day 36 of the mushroom lunch trial
Here’s a recap of what the jury heard on day 36 of Patterson’s trial:
1. Justice Christopher Beale began delivering his instructions to the jurors before they retire to consider their verdicts later this week. He said the jurors were the “judges of the facts” in the case.
2. The jury should cast aside prejudices and sympathies while deliberating the verdict, Beale said. “The fact Patterson told lies must not cause you to be prejudiced against her,” he said.
3. Beale said Patterson’s trial had garnered “unprecedented media attention” and a lot of public comment. “If any of that has reached your eyes or ears or does so in the coming days ... you must be particularly careful not to let it influence you in any way,” he said.
4. If the jury accepts Patterson was of good character they can use it to assess her credibility.
5. Beale outlined alleged prior inconsistent statements by witnesses. He said jurors could accept the earlier statement made by a witness or use the earlier statement to assess the reliability of a witness.
Before the jury leaves the room, Beale says: “you don’t need to bring your toothbrush tomorrow”, an indication that they will not be sequestered to consider their verdict until at least Thursday.
Beale will continue his instructions to the jury from 10.30am tomorrow.
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