BREAKING NEWS: Jurors imprisoned at court (From Surrey Comet)

Jurors imprisoned at Kingston Crown Court

1:39pm Thursday 21st July 2011 in News By David Lindsell, Assistant Editor

Jurors were imprisoned in a lift as they made their way to deliver verdicts in a robbery trial.

Kingston Crown Court staff kept tight-lipped about the delay this morning.

But Judge Andrew Campbell told the court: "Some if not all of you were stuck inside.

"That clearly is unacceptable. That shouldn't happen and it isn't the first time it has happened and I'm really sorry."

The jurors are believed to have been stuck for about half an hour, but the defendant's wait was worth it.

The foreman of the jury returned not guilty verdicts for both Joby Mirasole, 18, and Chakir Smith, 17.

They had denied robbing Gwang Ho Lee of a Sony PSP, 11 games, a driving licence, a wallet and £300 at Cavendish Road, New Malden, on September 12 last year.