The documentary was filmed at St George’s Hall
Jury members on Channel Four’s The Jury
A well-known Liverpool figure features in a new Channel 4 show. Last night saw the premiere of the second series of The Jury: Murder Trial.
The programme seeks to find out what it’s like working on a jury by recreating a real-life trial but changing the names of those involved and using actors for the defendant, witnesses and lawyers. Viewers can see how the jury discusses the case before seeing if they come to the same verdict as the real-life jury. The latest series takes place in Liverpool.
Applications opened last year for people living in and around the city who were interested in taking part. In this series, there is one jury, instead of two like in the previous series.
The re-created trial takes place at St George’s Hall. The case sees a young mum named Sophie, who is accused of stabbing her boyfriend Ryan in the chest with a kitchen knife.
Sophie claims it was self-defence after Ryan started strangling her. She also alleges he was abusive to her throughout their relationship. The jury in the TV show, like real-life juries, is composed of people from all sections of society. But one person people in Merseyside will likely recognise is Joanne Anderson.
Ms Anderson became the first black woman to be elected as a mayor in the UK when she assumed the office of Mayor of Liverpool in May 2021, replacing Joe Anderson. She stepped down almost two years ago as the city abolished the elected position, and now works as a business consultant.
Ms Anderson’s previous position in politics was not addressed in the episode last night. She was named as Joanne who worked in business.
Nevertheless, Ms Anderson wasn’t afraid to speak her mind. Reacting to one juror who said she was convinced that Sophie was guilty before she took to the stand, Ms Anderson said: “That’s a load of bollocks.
“People come to judgements far too early and I think it’s foolish of them to do that. I’ve always been aware of the horrible, abusive situations that women are placed in.
“We haven’t heard from Sophie herself. People connecting dots, adding two and two and getting 10 – I get irritated by (that).”
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Ms Anderson was taken aback by the revelation that Sophie had not told paramedics that her boyfriend had been stabbed, but was moved by testimony from Sophie’s nan, who said that Sophie stayed in the abusive relationship because she was determined to keep her family together.
Ms Anderson told other jurors: “I cried when she said she wanted to be loved. She grew up with that abusive relationship because she wanted to have a family unit so much, she’d never had it. That’s so sad.”
EastEnders actress Karen Henthorn played the role of Sophie’s grandmother Mary.
The Liverpool Film Office announced Ms Anderson’s involvement in the show last week, posting on Instagram: “Keep those eyes peeled as @channel4’s smash hit The Jury: Murder Trial is back for a second season in a couple of weeks.
“Filmed exclusively in @stgeorgeshall_liverpool (and featuring former mayor Joanne Anderson!), the @screendogproductions show will run for four consecutive nights beginning Tuesday 26th Aug and ask, how much can we trust our justice system? As a real-life murder trial is restaged for a jury of ordinary people, will they reach the same verdict?”
The programme will be broadcast over four consecutive evenings this week with episodes available after broadcast on demand.