Students want juror released
STUDENTS at the University of Bedfordshire are petitioning against the imprisonment of their former lecturer who was jailed for contempt of court.
Dr Theodora Dallas, 34, was sentenced to six months in prison by three High Court judges for disobeying the court and conducting internet research when she was a juror and then sharing it with other jury members.
The trial at Luton Crown Court in July 2011 had to be halted when Dallas told other jurors the defendant, who was on assault charges, had previously been accused of rape.
Psychology student Katie Mayhew said: “We are hoping to campaign as widely as possible for Dr Dallas’s case – encouraging as many friends, fellow students, anyone to sign the petition and speak out against this unfair sentence.”
The petition has 300 signatures, and the Facebook page entitled ‘Free Theodora Dallas - This Woman’s “Offence” Doesn’t Warrant Jail’ calls the woman’s crime an ‘horrific miscarriage of justice’ and states “I despair of the British “Justice” System.”
An email from campaigners said: “She definitely does not deserve to be in jail, especially when people who commit real crimes get no punishment...why make an example in this horrible way out of someone who made a mistake?
“Given that ‘Googling’ is not an activity likely to put society in danger, nor is Dr Dallas ever likely to be called upon again to be a juror, it beats us why someone who should be celebrating the start of an academic career has been thrown into jail under such circumstances.”
In sentencing the academic, the High Court Judge said he had “no doubt” that Dallas knew “perfectly well” the trial judge had directed jurors not to research online but “deliberately disobeyed the order”.
Greek Dallas, who moved to the UK when she was 19, said in her defence her English was not very good.
However, the Lord Judge said Dallas had struck the court as “a highly intelligent woman, extremely articulate in English”.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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Comments
There are 9 comments to this article
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Gluumeh21
Tuesday, February 28, 2012 at 06:27 PMI have only come across this now and have to say I am appalled at these silly little bleeding heart liberals e.g its so unfair! she shouldn't be in jail! etc ...get a grip, I have been fortunate enough to have access to the transcript for said case and in reading the actual facts, this woman built a rod for her own back. The judge himself commented on her "selective" memory, seemingly she remembered every detail EXCEPT the various instructions on NOT to use the internet, now in saying that, its not the problem, the fact that she preceded to run her mouth on what she had seen, even though other juror's on the case continually told her they did not want to hear about it. There are many other facts I could indulge but to cut a long story short, the woman acted idiotic and her actions caused the trial be postponed from July until OCTOBER, now I have been informed that this means the man who was on trial was free for three months, this is the same man who was on trial for GBH i.e Torturing another man <-- this included throwing caustic soda in the victims face, this man spent 3 months free because of this woman's stupid actions. So here's the bottom line, petition all you like, cry bloody murder, it will not change a thing.
seveoxbotty
Monday, February 6, 2012 at 01:11 PMContempt of court is a serious crime, at least that is how the judiciary view it. As for letting seroius criminals roam the streets is that not what Dr Dallas risked from causing the failure of the trial. Of course being greek by the time she is released she will be retired.
VOICEofJUSTICE
Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 02:35 PMEven if for some reason you wish to consider contempt of court as a "serious" crime, a jail sentence is entirely unwarranted in a case where there is no intent and a clear lack of information from the court about what they consider contempt. It is outrageous that decent citizens are put in prison while real, dangerous criminals continue to roam the streets and lead a happy life. The system does not need cases like this one to be in jeopardy. It is clear from this ridiculous decision that they are quite capable of jeopardizing themselves and a system that punishes the innocent to teach others a lesson cannot survive in the long run.
seveoxbotty
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 08:28 PMSorry but I have no sympathy. Whilst 6 months may seem a bit high when nobody got hurt the judiciary does take a hard line on contempt. Her action which she had been directly warned about wasted all the cost and effort of the trial. It may be that a retrial doesn't happen for some reason or that witnesses may not be available for it and so if the person on trial was guilty they will get off. Sometimes people need a hard lesson to realise their stupidity and arrogance.
Lutonsteve
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 01:06 PMSlightly worrying that her defence was that her English is not very good - what on earth was she doing lecturing at the University then??! While I agree that the sentence was perhaps slightly harsh, hardly any wonder that these uni students (the people who could be responsible for running things when my generation is too old worryingly) have completely failed to grasp the idea of the contempt of court law if they're being taught by lecturers who don't understand simple instructions in English!
ILoveLuton!
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 09:48 AMShe's the one that considers herself to be above the law by breaking it. You obviously don't understand that contempt of court IS a crime, I actually studied law so I think it's you who is embarrassing yourself here. You can't really argue with three high court judges just because she's a friend of yours. I'm know nothing about her character, all I know is she was in contempt of court and caused a trial to be halted, jeopardising the justice system. Of course she'll claim she 'wasn't aware' of what she was doing but she fact is she was told repeatedly not to do it so there isn't really any excuse. I understand if she's a friend of yours this is upsetting, and perhaps six months in prison is a little extreme but I expect she probably won't have to serve the entire length of the sentence. It's very kind of you to be fighting her corner and I'm sure she will appreciate the support.
VOICEofJUSTICE
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 11:05 PMShe definitely did not CHOOSE to disobey the judge. If you could actually read, you would know that she was UNAWARE that what she was doing was considered a crime by some of those who think they stand above the law. You cannot judge her character when you don't know anything about her and have never met her. This is clearly a matter which you don't understand and perhaps you should stop shouting stupidities to save yourself some embarrassment.
ILoveLuton!
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 04:17 PMhmmm don't really have any sympathy for her... this woman is an academic and responsible for teaching some of our young people. Surely as a psychology lecturer she would understand the effects her actions could have?! Contempt of court is a serious crime. If she chose to disobey the judge and break the law, that's her fault. She jeopardised a trial and wasted money and time and quite frankly deserves all she gets for her total stupidity and disregard for the law.
VOICEofJUSTICE
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 12:35 PMAnd you can sign the petition HERE: http:www.change.orgpetitionsminister-of-justice-justice-for-theodora-dallas
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