Shingles halts $170,000 hotel theft trial
A judge halted the trial of Scott Andrew Gray, accused of stealing $170,000 from Bendigo's Shamrock Hotel, after one juror contracted shingles.
The County Court jury in Bendigo was discharged on September 30 when one juror with a suspected case of shingles reported a rash on her shoulder. The juror informed the court that morning to prevent spreading the virus to other jury members.
Judge George Georgiou said discharging the jury was the only safe option to protect jurors' health. Shingles is a reactivation of the dormant chickenpox virus and spreads through touch.
Gray, 49, pleads not guilty to breaking into the hotel on February 7, 2025, and stealing about $170,000 in cash from its strongroom. The trial will now need to restart with a new jury.
- $170,000
- Amount stolen
- County Court, Bendigo
- Court
- September 30
- Jury discharged
- Scott Gray, 49
- Defendant
Why it mattersMajor trials can collapse due to unexpected illness, costing the court time and delaying justice for all parties.
AustraliaThe case will restart at Bendigo County Court, delaying the trial of one of NSW's most unusual courtroom disruptions.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 1 h ago
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