Where jurors conduct an unauthorised private visit to a crime scene and perform experiments relevant to a contested issue, the trial will miscarry unless the appellate court can be satisfied the irregularity did not affect the verdict. Evidence of what jurors saw and did at a location outside the jury room is admissible as it does not form part of jury deliberations, even if the jury has been sent out to consider their verdict. The Court promulgated five new standard directions to be given to juries prohibiting independent research, private views, experiments, and requiring jurors to report misconduct to the trial judge.
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