Juries Act, 1927

Separation of jurors during trial.

63.—(1) In any trial of a criminal issue other than an issue whether a person is or is not guilty of murder, or of treason, or of treason felony, the Judge may, if he so thinks fit, permit the jurors to separate at any time before they consider their verdict in the like way as jurors have heretofore been permitted to separate in the trial of an issue whether a person is or is not guilty of a misdemeanour.

(2) In every trial of an issue whether a person is or is not guilty of murder, or of treason, or of treason felony, and in every trial of any other criminal issue in which the jurors are not permitted to separate, if the trial is not concluded at the rising of the Court for the day the jurors shall not be permitted to separate and the proper officer shall take such steps as he shall think proper or the Judge shall direct to ensure that the jurors shall not separate and to provide them with suitable accommodation during the night and to enable them to obtain reasonable refreshments.

(3) In every trial of an issue, whether civil or criminal, tried with a jury the proper officer shall take such steps as he shall think proper or the Judge shall direct to provide the jurors with or to enable them to obtain reasonable refreshments in accordance with the practice heretofore observed during every period for which the Judge may rise during the day without permitting the jury to separate.

(4) The duties imposed by this section on the proper officer shall be duties in relation to jurors and juries which have heretofore been performed by the under-sheriff within the meaning of section 30 (which relates to the performance of such duties) of this Act, and the said duties so imposed on the proper officer shall accordingly be performed by the officer designated in that behalf by the said section 30 and all expenses in relation to the performance of such duties shall be borne or defrayed in the manner directed by the said section.