lunes, 17 de enero de 2011

Jurors warned over expenses trial - The Press Association

A judge has warned jurors in London about to hear the case of a former Tory peer accused of fiddling his parliamentary expenses to try the case only on the evidence.

Lord Taylor of Warwick is going on trial facing six counts of false accounting. Mr Justice Saunders told the jury at Southwark Crown Court: "The case you are about to try has attracted a considerable amount of publicity and is likely to attract more."

He said Lord Taylor was a member of the House of Lords and the prosecution alleges that he made a number of false claims.

"It will be for you to determine whether the prosecution have proved the defendant's guilt."

He said it was "vital" the jury ignored anything they read or heard outside the courtroom. "That includes anything that relates not just to Lord Taylor, but anything reported in the press about the expenses investigation as a whole."

He went on: "This is a case on which almost everyone will have a view they wish to express. Do not announce on Facebook or Twitter that you are on this jury, as you will simply invite comment, and do not reveal your impression of the case."

He also warned them not to seek further information on the case on the internet. "To deliberately disobey the directions of a judge would amount to a contempt of court. This is punishable by imprisonment or a fine."

The case against Lord Taylor, 58, is expected to open later on Monday or Tuesday.

Ms Law said Lord Taylor faced six allegations of false accounting. "These concern claims he made as a member of the House of Lords under the members' reimbursement allowance scheme, under which members claim expenses incurred in their parliamentary duties."

The counts relate to claims made on various dates between March 2006 and October 2007. He sent the claims to the members' expenses section, part of the House of Lords finance department, a part of the House of Lords that processes claims for expenses, and the money was paid.

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