Judge calls off assault trial

A jury trial for a bus driver accused of indecently assaulting a school girl was abandoned yesterday after the jury lost two members.

The jury sitting in the Blenheim District Court was reduced to 11 on Monday after one juror realised she knew a relative of the complainant. Before the trial resumed yesterday morning, Judge David McKegg said "a matter" had arisen that made it impossible for a second juror to continue and he abandoned the trial.

The accused, aged in his 60s, is alleged to have indecently assaulted a Marlborough Girls' College student on a bus last year.

He cannot be named because it may identify the complainant.

The man was remanded to appear before the court again on November 9 in preparation for a new trial, for which a date has not yet been set. The Marlborough Express

Last updated 11:47 22/09/2010