NSW: John Laws ordered to stand trial over juror

AAP General News (Australia)
12-18-1999
NSW: John Laws ordered to stand trial over juror

Talkback radio king JOHN LAWS has been committed to stand trial on a charge of soliciting
information about the secret deliberations of a jury.

Magistrate HUGH DILLON yesterday committed LAWS to stand trial in the New South Wales
District Court on a date to be fixed.

The broadcaster had earlier told Central Local Court he was innocent.

He's charged with soliciting information from a former juror for the purpose of obtaining
information about the deliberations of a jury.

In a 2UE broadcast on August 6, 1998, LAWS interviewed the distressed juror, who happened
to be a close friend of his wife CAROLINE and who had been given the pseudonym of Mrs
HANSON during the committal.

Claims were aired in the radio interview that Mrs HANSON was browbeaten the day before
into acquitting two men accused of murdering ANGELO CUSUMANO at his South Sydney computer
shop in December 1995.

In committing LAWS for trial, the magistrate found there was a reasonable prospect
a reasonably instructed jury might convict him.

AAP RTV mss/tsm/mo/msk/jn/msk/smf

KEYWORD: LAWS (SYDNEY)

1999 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.