My Jury Service story

Kapitan_Phillips · 03-08-09, 08:05 PM

So guys, I served on a jury recently in Swansea Crown Court. I thought you might have been interested in what it was about, and how things went.

I'll start by giving you a brief overview of the case I got. Arthur Pitt-Pladdy, stabbed a woman 177 times in her flat in the early morning; then eventually rang the police from a telephone box to admit to what he had done.

His 999 call contained such things as "I've killed my missus" and "I've left the knife sticking out of her neck" and when he was asked why he did it, he said "I'll talk to the judge about that".

Pitt-Pladdy pleaded guilty to manslaughter with diminished responsibility; which basically means he wasnt in control of his actions when the incident went down, and he didnt mean to kill the woman.

The defense continuously made reference to Arthur having Alcohol Dependency Syndrome, and a long history of drug and alcohol abuse, and as such, that would constitute an abnormality of mind sufficient enough to prove that he was not in control of himself during the crime.

However, the jury and I found him unanimously guilty of murder. Alcohol Dependency Syndrome, as I suggested, and was confirmed by two consultant psychologists, does constitute an abnormality of mind, but Pitt-Pladdy attacked the victim with a knife over a period of nearly 45 minutes. Alcohol Dependency Syndrome may account for a brief loss of self control, but 45 minutes obviously didnt fit into that.

Pitt-Pladdy committed the offense in August of 2008, and was able to recall vast amounts of the act when he was arrrested, and on the 999 call. Yet after spending time with his solicitor, began the classic "No Comment" act, and could suddenly not remember saying things or doing things on that night. Furthermore, after spending a few months in prison, I speculated that Pladdy had been talking to other inmates about how he might reduce his sentence, by pleading manslaughter (which carries an average sentence of 10 years) and diminished responsibility (by playing on his alcohol problem).

Nevertheless, I feel very proud of myself, that I helped in sending a scumbag down for a long long long time. I hope he rots.

Here are some news links:

http://www.westerntelegraph.co.uk/ne..._plea_hearing/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/7928568.stm
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wa...1466-23086416/

03-08-09, 08:05 PM	#1
Kapitan_Phillips Silent Hunter Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Swansea Posts: 3,903 Downloads: 204 Uploads: 0	My Jury Service story So guys, I served on a jury recently in Swansea Crown Court. I thought you might have been interested in what it was about, and how things went. I'll start by giving you a brief overview of the case I got. Arthur Pitt-Pladdy, stabbed a woman 177 times in her flat in the early morning; then eventually rang the police from a telephone box to admit to what he had done. His 999 call contained such things as "I've killed my missus" and "I've left the knife sticking out of her neck" and when he was asked why he did it, he said "I'll talk to the judge about that". Pitt-Pladdy pleaded guilty to manslaughter with diminished responsibility; which basically means he wasnt in control of his actions when the incident went down, and he didnt mean to kill the woman. The defense continuously made reference to Arthur having Alcohol Dependency Syndrome, and a long history of drug and alcohol abuse, and as such, that would constitute an abnormality of mind sufficient enough to prove that he was not in control of himself during the crime. However, the jury and I found him unanimously guilty of murder. Alcohol Dependency Syndrome, as I suggested, and was confirmed by two consultant psychologists, does constitute an abnormality of mind, but Pitt-Pladdy attacked the victim with a knife over a period of nearly 45 minutes. Alcohol Dependency Syndrome may account for a brief loss of self control, but 45 minutes obviously didnt fit into that. Pitt-Pladdy committed the offense in August of 2008, and was able to recall vast amounts of the act when he was arrrested, and on the 999 call. Yet after spending time with his solicitor, began the classic "No Comment" act, and could suddenly not remember saying things or doing things on that night. Furthermore, after spending a few months in prison, I speculated that Pladdy had been talking to other inmates about how he might reduce his sentence, by pleading manslaughter (which carries an average sentence of 10 years) and diminished responsibility (by playing on his alcohol problem). Nevertheless, I feel very proud of myself, that I helped in sending a scumbag down for a long long long time. I hope he rots. Here are some news links: http://www.westerntelegraph.co.uk/ne..._plea_hearing/ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/7928568.stm http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wa...1466-23086416/ __________________ Well, here's another nice mess you've gotten me into.