Juries are used in criminal trials to determine an individual's guilt or innocence. Juries can be influenced by factors other than the evidence presented.
On 24th October 2024 at a Crown Court in England, two separate trials were proceeding.
The first trial was of a 19-year-old male physics student, described as quiet, studious, and socially withdrawn.
The other trial was of a 42-year-old female motorcycle mechanic with extensive tattoos, known for her vocal union activism.
They have both been accused of committing commercial arson by deliberately setting fire to a warehouse.
Assess how characteristics of these defendants may affect the judgements of the juries during these two criminal trials. You must make reference to the context in your answer.
Practise Edexcel A Level Psychology Content with exam-style questions for A Level Psychology. 1,059 questions covering Biological explanations of crime, Social explanations of crime, Cognitive and ethical interview techniques, Psychological formulation of offending, Cognitive-behavioural treatment for offenders, Biological treatment for offenders, Factors influencing eye-witness testimony, Factors influencing jury decision-making, Individual differences, and Developmental psychology, matched to the Edexcel A Level Psychology (9PS0) specification and written in Paper 1, Paper 2 and Paper 3 style. Every question includes a full worked solution and mark scheme, so you can see where marks are awarded rather than just whether you got the answer right.
