Juror phones in too drunk for court

A juror in Edinburgh phoned Scotland’s High Court to say that she was too drunk to turn up for duty.

Nicola Glen had spent nine days on the jury for the case against Grant Farquhar, but last Thursday, she telephoned the court to say that she had been out drinking until 4am and was too drunk to attend court. She subsequently missed the closing speeches.

Glen’s action could have caused problems for the trial and she was ordered to appear in court on Friday by judge Michael O’Grady. She could have faced a charge of contempt of court but the judge, after listening to her explanations decided not to go ahead with the charge.

Glen explained that she had recently split from her long term partner and had decided to go out after hearing the “harrowing evidence” in the case.

STV News reported that the judge was “utterly bewildered” by Glen’s behaviour but he decided not to proceed with the contempt charges because of her honesty.

He said: “Your only saving grace is that you have been utterly honest. I am persuaded that the matter will proceed no further.”