Unamamous verdict not required

In a major change to NZ law, 11 to 1 verdicts will be allowed from Juries.

“We can’t afford in the criminal justice system to have constant retrials,” says Justice Minister Simon Power.

We are following the lead of England. In most of the United States a unanimous verdict is still required, while in Australia all states except the ACT accept majority verdicts for some crimes.

Depositions hearings have also changed. These were used to decide whether a case should go to trial.
But a leading defence lawyer says it will harm innocent people.

“The doing away with depositions is based on cost savings,” says Barrister Marie Dyhrberg.