The assessment of apprehended bias in relation to a juror is better regarded as evaluative rather than discretionary, admitting of only one correct legal answer, which may qualify the application of House v The King principles to juror discharge decisions under s 43 of the Juries Act 2000 (Vic). An indirect association between relatives of a juror and a relative of the accused, of which the juror credibly professes ignorance, does not give rise to a reasonable apprehension of bias requiring discharge.
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