All about new Channel 4 show The Jury Murder Trial

Channel 4 is to explore the intricate British jury system in brand new TV series The Jury: Murder Trial on TV this week.

The show will meticulously recreates an actual murder trial using original transcripts, presented before two separate juries, each ignorant of the other’s existence

When is it on TV?

The Jury: Murder Trial starts on TV on Monday, 26 February at 9PM on Channel 4. Episodes of the four-part series will continue nightly, with the last on Thursday, 29 February.

Alternatively, you’ll be able to stream the show via Channel4.com.

Filmed over ten days, in a former courthouse in Essex, the series will take a forensic look at the inner workings of justice.

The two juries are tasked with adjudicating on the real case of a man who admits to killing his wife. However, his defence asserts that he lost control, thus should not be deemed guilty of murder.

The trial is reenacted by actors before the two juries, positioned in separate compartments within the courtroom, unaware of the other’s presence.

What conclusions will the two juries reach, and for what reasons? Will they arrive at identical decisions when confronted with identical evidence presented in the same manner? Could other influences sway their judgment? How adeptly will they grasp the complexities of the legal doctrine concerning loss of control? After their deliberations, will they align with each other’s verdicts?

Who are the juries?

A total of 24 jury members take part, randomly split into two groups.

Making up the Red Jury are Gary, Victoria, Diana, Ricky, Chris, Neil, Rosie, Richard, Kelly, Keith, Emily and Luca.

On the Blue Jury are Hilary, Aaron, Sonia, Jodie, Liberty, Adam, Ollie, Sacha, Lorell, Emily, William, Junior.

Ed Kellie, Creative Director at programme makers Screendog said: “We wanted to be inside the jury room of a real and complex murder case – and to explore how a jury works and if jury verdicts really are as reliable as we are led to believe.”

Alf Lawrie, Head of Factual Entertainment, for Channel 4 added: “This fascinating and ground-breaking programme asks profound questions about the justice system. Lifting the lid on what most people know little about this revealing show could be described as putting the jury system itself on trial.”