When you hear stories such as this you do actually begin to think WTF.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13751454A juror, who contacted a defendant via Facebook, has admitted contempt of court in the first case of its kind in the UK involving the internet.
London's High Court heard that Joanne Fraill, 40, contacted Jamie Sewart, 34, who had already been acquitted in a drugs trial in Manchester.
However, the jury was still considering charges against other defendants and the contact led the judge to discharge the jury, and the case collapsed.
Sewart was found to be in contempt.
She had admitted the contact took place but denied it amounted to an offence.
The pair now face up to two years in jail.
The case, brought by the Attorney General, Dominic Grieve QC, is being heard by the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Judge, and two other judges.
Fraill admitted she had made online contact with Ms Sewart and discussed the case with her while the jury's deliberations were continuing.
She also admitted revealing details of the jury's deliberations during that online conversation - contrary to Contempt of Court Act 1981 - and conducting internet research into a defendant whose case she was trying as a juror during the trial.
That was despite the judge reminding all the jurors that they must decide the case solely on the evidence given in court.
'Home and dry'
Earlier this year, the attorney general sought permission at the High Court to bring the proceedings against Fraill, of Blackley, Manchester, and Ms Sewart, of Bolton.
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“Start Quote
All that note-taking was killing time. I drew more than I wrote”
End Quote Facebook comment by Joannne Fraill
Fraill was on a jury in a case which had already been halted twice.
On 3 August last year, the judge in the third trial of the alleged drugs gang gave jurors the option of deciding the verdict by a majority rather than unanimously.
But the High Court was told the trial was stopped the following day when Ms Sewart's solicitor informed the court that his client and Fraill had been in contact by Facebook.
The court heard Fraill had gone on Facebook and tracked down Ms Sewart.
"I can't believe they had you on remand," she said in one of their conversations.
Fraill added she thought she recognised one of the other defendants and when asked by Sewart how the jury was dealing with one of the outstanding charges said: "Can't get anyone to go, no-one is budging".
The two continued to talk about the case and used expressions such as "lol" and other internet slang.
Frail also said: "At least you are home and dry".
And Ms Sewart responded: "Ha ha, you're mad. I really appreciate everything. I could have kissed you."
The pair agreed to become Facebook friends after the trial.
Fraill also described her role on the jury in their conversations. "All that note-taking was killing time. I drew more than I wrote," she said.
Angus McCullough QC, for the attorney general, told the High Court: "That contact and discussion were in direct breach of the judge's repeated directions to the jury that they should not discuss the case with anyone outside their number, and constituted a contempt of court."
In a speech last year, the Lord Chief Justice warned that jurors could go to jail if they searched the internet for information on defendants. At the time of the speech, he said that he knew of one rape trial which had been stopped because of online research by jurors.
"It is at least arguable that for a juror to examine the internet for information relating to the case is a contempt of court, and a criminal contempt," he said.
"One consequence of the use, or rather misuse of modern technology in the course of the trial would be that they may be liable to a finding of contempt of court, and indeed a sentence."
