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Amendments to the Criminal Procedure Rules 2015

13.  In Part 25 (Trial and sentence in the Crown Court)—

(a)in rule 25.14 (Directions to the jury and taking the verdict)—

(i)for paragraph (3)(d), (e) and (f) substitute—

(d)if necessary, recall the jury—

(i)to answer jurors’ questions, or

(ii)to give directions, or further directions, about considering and delivering its verdict or verdicts, including, if appropriate, directions about reaching a verdict by a majority;

(e)in a case in which the jury is required to return a single verdict—

(i)recall the jury (unless already recalled) when it informs the court that it has reached its verdict, and

(ii)direct the delivery of that verdict there and then;

(f)in a case in which the jury is required to return two or more verdicts—

(i)recall the jury (unless already recalled) when it informs the court that it has reached a verdict or verdicts, and

(ii)ask the jury whether its members all agree on every verdict required;

(g)if the answer to that question is ‘yes’, direct the delivery of each of those verdicts there and then; and

(h)if the answer to that question is ‘no’—

(i)direct the delivery there and then of any unanimous verdict that has been reached, or

(ii)postpone the taking of any such verdict while the jury considers each other verdict required., and

(ii)in paragraph (5), for “When the court recalls the jury to deliver its verdict” substitute “When the court directs the jury to deliver its verdict or verdicts”; and

(b)in the note to rule 25.14, for “rule 25.14(5)” substitute “rule 25.14(6)”.