England: Nearly half of all juries in rape trials find defendant guilty before deliberations

Nearly 50 per cent of all juries in rape cases decide on a guilty verdict before retiring to the jury room, according to new research.

A study by the University of Huddersfield found that 43 per cent of jurors made their decision in advance of any discussion. However, 13 per cent of jurors did change their minds after deliberating.

Jurors’ educational backgrounds also had an impact on verdicts, with non-graduates being more likely to vote “not guilty”.

The university was supported by Manchester barristers St Johns Buildings. Researchers said the findings may strengthen calls for jurors to be screened for biases, especially in rape trials.

Dominic Willmott, from Huddersfield University and a lecturer in psychology at Leeds Trinity University, said: “Past experiences play a huge role in shaping the person you are, and inevitably affects your view on society.

“As well as the importance of demographic features of the jurors, attitudes towards rape were found to be the strongest predictor of high numbers of not guilty verdicts.”