Juror charged over school stabbing trial collapse
AthenaA man who served on the jury in a school stabbing trial, which later collapsed, has been charged with failing to disclose a "personal connection" while serving on the jury.
It relates to the initial trial of a girl who stabbed two teachers and a pupil at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman which saw a re-trial earlier this year.
Christopher Elias, 45, of Waunceirch, Neath Port Talbot, appeared at Cardiff Magistrates Court on Monday where an indication of a not guilty plea was given.
A previous charge of refusing to answer a question relating to the qualification to serve on a jury was withdrawn.
In April 2025, a teenage girl was sentenced to 15 years for the attempted murder of teachers Fiona Elias, Liz Hopkin and a pupil, who cannot be named because of their age.
They were stabbed by the girl, who was 13 at the time, in April 2024.
The first attempted murder trial collapsed in October 2024 because of what the judge described as a "great irregularity in the jury".
It is alleged that, on 30 September 2024, Mr Elias "intentionally failed to properly complete a juror questioner and disclose that you had a personal connection with the school involved in the trial and persons associated with the trial".
The charge falls under the category of jurors engaging in prohibited conduct and is considered too serious for magistrates court to deal with so it has been passed to crown court.
Christopher Elias was released on unconditional bail.
The next hearing is due to take place at Cardiff Crown Court on 28 July 2025.