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A Supreme Court jury overseeing the murder trial of accused killer Ricardo Barbaro has been discharged after one juror researched the case outside of court.
Justice Lex Lasry expressed significant frustration in the Supreme Court on Wednesday after he was informed a jury member had disobeyed the court’s instructions not to undertake personal research about the case.
Ellie Price and Ricardo Barbaro.
Jury members are only permitted to consider the evidence produced in front of them during a trial to help decide their ultimate verdict.
Lasry said the juror’s actions would now be referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
“A member of the jury failed to comply with the judge’s direction. Unfortunately, it is necessary to discharge you as a jury,” Lasry said.
“That’s happening because I’m told one of you … made inquiries out of this courtroom on the internet about this case.
“I … refer this case to the Office of Public Prosecutions.”
Jurors can be charged with misconduct for ignoring a judge’s directions not to refer to any material about the case or discuss the matter outside the courtroom.
The trial, which was set down for four weeks, will resume at a later date.
Barbaro is accused of killing 26-year-old Ellie Price at her South Melbourne apartment on April 29, 2020.
He has pleaded not guilty to her murder.
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