Facebook juror admits contempt

POSTER GIRL FOR THE UK Joanne Fraill, the juror who contacted a defendant via Facebook during a court case, has been back to the scene of the scandal.

Fraill, in a stunning act of foolishness, contacted a defendant who had already been through the legal process before a criminal trial had concluded, causing it to collapse around everyone's ears.

Fraill has now admitted to contempt of court for contacting Jamie Sewart through Facebook during the case and will be sentenced tomorrow. For her efforts, which are a gruelling read, she faces up to two years in prison.

The conversation, which has been reproduced online at the Guardian, might make sense to teenagers and such, but it's fairly confusing and very damaging.

However, it includes some chat about the jury and its discussions from Fraill - writing under the pseudonym of Smilie - as well as more than its fair share of spelling mistakes.

The following, reproduced from the Guardian, is a sample:

Sewart to: Smilie: i know i have deleted all the messages i wudnt do that to u dont worry xx
Smilie to: Sewart: i heard you doenstairs with the little un awe we were watchin through the glass lol she a doll x
Smilie to: Sewart: awe fuck nos hw a didnt get caught wiv my nods and blinks
Smilie to: Sewart: hand signals haha ive even been split from a juror omg
Sewart to: Smilie: haha i kept thinkin that it was to sumone behind me
Smilie to: Sewart: yeh but did u notice that my front tooth fell out the 2nd day of the trialll hahhahahha wot do i look like

Charming though this exchange was, it has ruined a £6m case involving drugs. According to the BBC Fraill admitted that the online contact took place, which is good, since we've seen it, but drew short of admitting that it amounted to an offence.

English language teachers may disagree. µ