‘Justice is not served under pressure’: Jury to begin deliberations on Wednesday

A Hamilton jury will begin deliberations tomorrow on whether nine Mongolian members are guilty of around 90 counts.

Judge Melanie Harland finished her summary this afternoon and asked the jury to start Wednesday at 9 a.m.

Judge Harland has spent the past two days summarizing the roughly 12-week trial, which has seen countless adjournments and delays.

Yesterday, she began by telling them that they will have over 2,000 pages of evidence notes before detailing the many other files of information that will be made available to them.

Judge Harland pointed out that the jury will receive several briefs covering several topics, including the vital question trail, testimony, expert evidence, picture books and intercepted communications.

She also noted what was not evidence; including what she said as well as closing submissions from the Crown and the defence.

“Although they have made submissions on the evidence…that’s a matter entirely for you.

“These are simply issues they want to highlight on behalf of their clients.”

One of the key aspects she reminded them of was that they were the makers of the facts and what weight – if any – to give to the evidence they heard.

At the center of these facts was the testimony of the key Crown witness, whom she described as so reliable that he could have been an expert, while the defense lawyer called him a “liar”.

The defense says he had a motive to lie and he lied.

Whether he did or not will be up to the jury to decide as they work to reach verdicts on the charges against each defendant, totaling around 180 separate verdicts.

“How you do it and how much time you need is a question for you.

“I appreciate that you have been involved for a long time, but it is fundamentally important to all parties involved, the Crown and the defendants, that you take the time you need to come to a fair decision because justice is not served. under pressure or in a hurry.