Juror turns up at court in 21 today so judge lets her leave to enjoy her birthday

A juror was discharged four days into a child rape trial because she had booked a pampering  session to mark her 21st birthday.  She had earlier caused a commotion in the courtroom when she took her seat with glitter in her hair and wearing a sash saying ‘21 today’.  Shortly after the trial resumed, Judge Ebraham Mooncey was passed a note from the juror informing him she had arranged a series of beauty appointments with friends the following day.  He then agreed to release her and the case continued with the remaining five male and six female jurors  Yesterday MPs and legal observers  condemned the judge’s actions. Tory  MP Dominic Raab called the incident  ‘extraordinary’ and said the juror needed to understand that jury service is a civic responsibility and not a favour to be provided to the courts and public.  The events unfolded towards the end of the defence case for a man accused of eight ‘historic’ charges of child rape.  All 11 remaining jurors eventually found him guilty on six of the charges at Leicester Crown Court yesterday. He was remanded in custody and warned he faced a jail sentence.  Judge Mooncey only became a circuit judge in 2009 and was based in Lincoln before moving to Leicester. Married with four children, he was born in Gujarat India and studied law at Kingston University.  A legal source who knows the judge said he splits opinion among barristers, some of whom have questioned the speed of his appointment.  The source added When he was a barrister some court officials would comment that he liked to play to the press benches and the public gallery with his opening remarks during trials.’  He added After court rose on the evening of Wednesday September 14, juror number two indicated that she had made arrangements, connected with her birthday, for Friday 16 something she had also indicated at the commencement of her jury service.  The matter was dealt with as soon as all parties, including the defendant, were next present, on the morning of Thursday September 15.  Following discussion with prosecution and defence representatives, it was agreed that juror number two would be discharged and the remaining 11 jurors would sit for longer on Friday if required.  In the event, the jury retired on Friday and returned with unanimous verdicts that afternoon