11 May 2009

Xue defence team seeks legal aid for jury profiling

4:19 pm on 11 May 2009

The defence team for murder-accused Nai Yin Xue says an application for legal aid to pay for juror profiling is justified.

Nai Yin Xue, 55, will appear at the High Court in Auckland next month accused of strangling his wife at their home in the city, before abandoning his three-year-old daughter at a Melbourne railway station.

His lawyers have employed a private investigator to research the backgrounds of those who could be selected for the jury.

Lawyer Chris Comesky says the investigation is intended to ensure a neutral jury is selected, as potential jurors may have preconceived views on an already high-profile case.

He says the inquiries will not be intrusive but will consider demographics and likely personal beliefs.