Killer contacted juror on kidnapping trial

A convicted killer allegedly contacted a woman on the jury which found him guilty of kidnapping charges earlier this month.

George Charlie Baker was found guilty of kidnapping, threatening to kill and assault with an offensive weapon by an Auckland District Court jury on August 2.

The charges were laid after Baker took an elderly prisoner hostage with a weapon and attempted to kidnap a prison officer in Auckland's Paremoremo Prison in August last year.

Baker committed the crime while serving an 18-year sentence for the murder of Liam Ashley, who was killed in the back of a prison van almost four years ago.

He allegedly sent the letter to the juror midway through his trial after getting her contact details from a list of jurors' names, addresses and occupations, One News reported.

Baker was entitled to access the list under supervision because he represented himself at the trial.

It is understood his letter to the middle-aged married woman was not intimidating, but contained romantic overtures.

Ministry of Justice deputy courts secretary Andrew Hampton said he was taking the matter very seriously.

"This hasn't happened before, certainly in my time in the ministry. Jurors need to be assured that they won't be subject to even a hint of intimidation so that's why we're taking it very seriously."

The ministry will this week hold an urgent meeting to discuss the matter and brief Justice Minister Simon Power.

Police and the Corrections Department are investigating.

Criminal law expert Gary Gotlieb said people standing trial should never contact jurors, and the incident was "a very real worry".

A 2008 law change meant defendants who represented themselves could not take jury lists away, but could consult the lists under supervision.

Removing jurors' addresses from the lists would stop similar incidents taking place, Mr Gotlieb said.

- NZPA