THE Wollongong jury in the trial of three people accused of murdering former Nowra lawyer Katie Foreman were discharged on Monday, with the case now set to be reheard in Sydney.
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The Supreme Court jury was relieved of its duty to continue hearing the case after it was revealed a juror knew one of the witnesses.
Crown prosecutor Chris Maxwell QC said the juror and the witness served on the same Illawarra sporting committee.
Defence barristers for murder accused Bradley Max Rawlinson, Bernard Justin Spicer and Michelle Sharon Proud rejected suggestions put forward by Mr Maxwell that presiding judge Justice Ian Harrison could dismiss the one jury member.
They said it was impossible to know what the juror may have said to the rest of the panel during its deliberations on the case, which was due to enter its fifth day of evidence on Tuesday morning.
Justice Harrison said allowing the current jury panel to continue could have raised a “significant and troublesome” perception.
He formally dismissed the group shortly after noon, thanking members for their involvement in the proceedings.
Rawlinson, Spicer and Proud are set to face a fresh jury panel next week.
It is likely to be at Darlinghurst courthouse.