Juror spots redacted evidence, leading to mistrial in Queensland fraud case
A juror in Larry Joe Woosup's fraud trial identified a copy of evidence containing redacted material, prompting the judge to declare a mistrial.
Larry Joe Woosup, an Ankumuthi traditional owner, faced two aggravated fraud charges related to alleged misuse of mining royalties in 2014. After six days of testimony, a juror raised concerns that a copy of an exhibit they received contained redacted information, which the judge said might have been considered by the jury from the start. Judge Joshua Treviño KC concluded the presence of non-tendered material constituted a substantial prejudice that could not be remedied, leading to the discharge of the jury and a mistrial declaration.
An additional procedural lapse was noted when jurors' mobile phones were not confiscated before they began deliberating, a mistake discovered an hour later. The court thanked the jurors for their service and scheduled a trial review for September 28 at Cairns District Court. The underlying allegations involve Woosup setting up trust accounts for the Ankumuthi community and allegedly diverting $110,000 and a $95,000 cheque from a mining company for personal use.
Why it matters
The mistrial highlights how evidence handling errors can derail serious fraud prosecutions.
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