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A Rotorua woman was locked up by police for failing to appear for jury service four years ago - despite appearing on three juries since.
Marge Baumfield said she never received the jury summons sent in 2002. It went to an address where she never lived. She has
since served on three juries in Rotorua.
Police said they had no choice but to lock her in the cells because a judge issued an arrest warrant.
When she appeared in court the matter was quickly dismissed, but Baumfield said she was left feeling humiliated.
She wanted the system changed so it did not happen to anyone else.
The Ministry of Justice said it recognised the Rotorua woman had taken her responsibility to serve on juries seriously and it would look into the matter.
Baumfield found out about the warrant after applying to visit a nephew in Waikeria Prison.
The news came in a letter from the prison, stating she needed to go to the courthouse to deal with the problem. She went immediately.
"I couldn't believe it. I hadn't done anything wrong."
Court staff told her to go to the police station but police were unable to verify whether there was a warrant and asked her to return the next day, which she did.
She was promptly arrested and locked in the police cells, where she waited three hours before being taken to court where a judge dismissed the matter.
"I take this community service seriously. I've been on at least three juries since then and nobody has ever said anything to me.
"Surely they know I have never missed jury service. They can blame the computer, but it's only the people who feed the information into it."
To add to her embarrassment, Baumfield said she was "busting" to go to the toilet but was unable to do so because there was no toilet tissue in the cell.
"I was humiliated and embarrassed because I did nothing wrong and yet I was processed and treated like a criminal. I know I don't ever want to be a criminal, that's for sure."
Police prosecutor Sergeant Bill Scott said that when a warrant to arrest was issued by a judge, police had to hold the person in custody and present them before the next available judge or justice of the peace.
Ministry of Justice district courts general manager Tony Fisher said in a statement that Baumfield's address in 2003 was taken from the electoral role.
Mr Fisher said a warrant to arrest remained current until the person was arrested or a judge withdrew it.
He said a check of criminal histories was the only check made before someone was summoned for jury service.
"The automated check would not have shown a warrant to arrest, as Ms Baumfield does not have a conviction," the statement said.
He said the situation was not common and holding Baumfield in a police cell was unavoidable.
Anyone who fails to attend jury service can have be arrested for failing to appear and be fined up to $1000.
It is up to a judge to decide if a warrant will be issued.
- DAILY POST (ROTORUA)
