Tas Supreme Court halts jury trials amid coronavirus crisis

The Supreme Court of Tasmania has announced it will temporarily stop jury trials amid concerns over the spread of coronavirus.

Jury trials will not be held this week in Tasmania’s Supreme Court.

TASMANIA’s Supreme Court has announced it will temporarily halt jury trials in response to concerns over the spread of coronavirus.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the Supreme Court judges said no trials would begin this week, but it was expected they would recommence next Monday – March 23 – with “new health and safety arrangements in place”.

Details of those arrangements have not yet been revealed.

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On Monday, accused people not in custody were processed by court staff outside the building, before being called inside in groups of five.

Today’s court list is a “miscellaneous” day with dozens of administrative hearings.

Many of these will involve an accused person attending a hearing from video link from where they are currently detained in prison or on remand.

However, dozens more are scheduled to attend in person today.

“The judges have decided to put in place arrangements to protect the health and safety of jurors and all court visitors by addressing the risk of close contact and large numbers of people assembling at safety arrangements in place,” the Supreme Court statement said.

“The court will continue to deal with cases but is determined not to put the health of jurors and others at risk.”

The only trial expected to begin this week was a murder case for former Hobart doctor Stephen John Edwards.

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He is accused of killing his elderly mother at Sandy Bay during 2016 by administering a drug.

No jury trials are currently in progress in Tasmania, however jurors who have received summonses are still expected to attend court on Tuesday to receive further instructions.

“The situation will remain under constant review. Further information about the court’s listings will be issued during the week,” the statement said.

“People other than jurors will still be required to attend court as usual.”

The move to halt jury trials in Tasmania comes just 24 hours after Victoria’s Supreme and County courts announced they wouldn’t start any new jury trials until further notice, with the decision expected to place huge strain on an already overburdened judicial system.

The NSW Supreme and District courts made a similar announcement on Monday morning.

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