Woman's loo dash takes jurors by surprise

The woman's dash through the jury room to the toilet took everyone by surprise - and has caused a delay to proceedings. Photo / Thinkstock

A jury sitting in their jury room waiting for day six of trial they are sitting on to begin this morning were given a rude interruption when a woman burst inside and locked herself in the toilet.

The woman ran through the Christchurch District Court shouting, "I've got to get out of here.''

She tried to enter through a locked door adjoining the court cells before rushing into the jury room.

The woman charged past the jurors before locking herself in the bathroom.

Security staff and police were called and are now trying to gain entry to the room.

The jury have been taken out and are sitting in the courtroom.

Court staff are looking for a spare key, and considering taking the door off its hinges to remove the intruder.

Judge Gary MacAskill, presiding over the kidnapping and assault trial of Kaiapoi businessman Dave Clemence, has been told to expect a slight delay to the day's proceedings.

He will begin his summing up of the week-long trial when the drama has been resolved.