The Twelve

Stop.

Let's go.

Radio: But first, we cross to court reporter Ben tan,

who's outside the parramatta supreme court

for the first day of a murder trial

that not everyone agrees is a murder.

Good morning to you, Ben.

Ben: That's right, Lexie,

legal opinion is fiercely divided

on whether the charges against Kate Lawson

should have made it through the committal process,

with some academics and even a retired judge

claiming the case has no merit.

And Ben, I believe the family are also divided.

They are, Lexie, and they've been very public in their disagreements.

Photographic artist, Kate Lawson, accused of killing her niece,

has been in custody since breaching her bail conditions last year.

Her defence argue that without a body,

the prosecution cannot prove

beyond a reasonable doubt that 14-year-old Claire Spears is dead.

The case, which has shocked the nation,

will go to trial this week,

with a jury set to be sworn in today.

Woman: Mr Spears, any comment? Can you provide any comment to us?

Mr Spears, will you put your faith in a jury?

What I believe is that a jury

will find that my daughter was an innocent teenager

who was in the wrong hands.

Could I just get your bag, please?

Thanks.

Your t-shirt. You can't wear that in court, sir.

Ok, go through.

Mr Colby.

Thank you, sheriff.

Good morning. Good morning.

Good morning, Kate. Morning.

Pastries, from your sister.

Did you bring my...

I did. Right here.

Might I suggest, this is a slightly more jury-friendly shade, you know?

Anyway, have a pastry, then take these.

They'll help.

They've already given me my meds.

Who's they?

The prison psychiatrist.

And you've taken them?

'Cause last report,

I had mentioned something about self-harm.

Do I need to worry? How are you feeling?

They've put me in with child murderers

for my own protection.

Being depressed is a pretty normal response to that.

Fair enough.

Anyway, these are just beta-blockers.

They'll... they'll keep you calm in the dock, you know?

They're my son's pills. They're for stage fright.

I don't want them.

Ezekiel, are you sure that

they're not going to bring up what we spoke about?

Don't worry, Kate. We've dealt with that.

Put it out of your mind now.

Kate, listen to me.

From here on,

the most important thing is how you appear to the jury.

Your look, your behaviour...

But this is my look.

This is...

This is my behaviour. They'll be watching you.

They'll be forming opinions.

Show emotion, that's fine, but above all, no histrionics.

Do you understand?

Boo.

I just wish she'd come back.

Well, we all wish that.

But Kate.

The jury is everything.

Judge: Would the defendant please stand?

Kate Dawson, you are indicted

by that name that you, on 14 September 2019,

at castlecrag, in the state of new south wales,

did murder Claire Spears.

How say you? Are you guilty or not guilty?

Not guilty.

Members of the jury panel, if your number's drawn,

please stand and make your way to the jury box,

and if challenged, please return to your seat.

6-1-1-0-8.

6-1-2-5-4.

Bloom: Challenge.

If you could return to your seat please, madam.

6-1-2-1-6.

6-1-1-1-3.

6-1-0-4-5.

6-1-2-3-3.

6-1-0-7-9.

6-1-1-2-9.

Colby: Challenge.

You're excused from the court, madam.

6-1-0-2-2.

Number 0-2-2?

Fuck.

Challenge.

You have no further challenges,

unless you're making a challenge with cause, madam crown.

His t-shirt, your honour.

Yeah, sorry, I forgot the t-shirt said that.

That's why I turned it inside out before I came in.

I see. Thank you for explaining.

Are you willing to respect the decorum

of the court in this trial?

Yes, sir.

Thank you.

Join the jury.

6-1-0-7-2.

I thought that he said they were only going to choose 12?

They said there'd be two additional jurors,

just in case the trial takes a few months.

6-1-0-1-7.

Number 0-1-7?

For those of you who are taking the affirmation, please rise.

Do you solemnly and sincerely declare

and affirm that you will give a true verdict,

according to the evidence?

If so, please say 'i do.'

all: I do.

How do you know whether to take an oath or an affirmation?

People who are not christians don't take an oath on the Bible.

And it's binding, regardless.

Sorry. Excuse me, sorry.

Sorry.

Do you know, if there is 14 of us,

do we all have to stay until the end of the trial?

No idea. Well, we do.

If there are still 14 at the end,

then we each take a ballot to see which 12 get to vote.

Does anyone know if we can use phones during the trial?

Says no in the information booklet.

I've got a business to run.

Well, who knows? Maybe she'll just turn up halfway through the trial.

They never found her body, right?

Oh, should we introduce ourselves?

Trevor. We can stay anonymous.

Isn't that what they said?

Yeah.

Maybe we should stay anonymous.

We don't have to give surnames.

Mm.

Well, it's up to the group.

Well, we're humans, not numbers.

I'm Vanessa.

Simon.

Margaret.

Peter.

I'm corrie.

I'm garry.

Hey, you look familiar. You're not from glebe, are you?

Parramatta.

Alexi. Hi.

Farrad.

Jarrod. Hey.

Farrad and jarrod.

My name's Lily.

I don't want to give my name.

Can we just call you number eight?

Suits me.

Mel. Hi.

Georgina. Hi.

Anyone else feel like they're at a 12-step meeting?

At least we're getting paid for it, though.

106 bucks and change a day.

It costs me ten times that.

Maybe we should just go over the rules again.

So we can't make any inquiries outside the courtroom,

which means we can't Google anything,

read any media coverage on the case, visit the scene of the crime...

How do they police that?

I don't know but it says here it's a criminal offence,

so I probably wouldn't do it.

And it's the responsibility of jurors

to report misconduct of another jury member.

Like what?

That's if we find out someone's been looking up the case on the Internet.

Or if we're discussing it with the media.

So any volunteers to be jury foreman?

Foreperson.

I'll do it.

Anyone else?

I'm happy to do it too.

Too slow. You snooze, you lose.

There are two takers. We'll vote.

All in favour of corrie, wasn't it?

Corrie, yeah. Say aye.

Aye. Aye.

Aye. Aye.

She's got it.

It's cool. If you'd like to do it, you should do it.

You had your hand up first.

I was only offering you a way out.

Jamie, we're home!

Hello.