Somebody to lean on

WA Attorney General Jim McGinty commissioned a study into the possible intimidation of jurors in cases involving organized crime figures.

The issue was raised by police after a not guilty verdict in the Metro Nightclub stabbing trial, which saw all the accused walk free, despite the inherent dangers posed to staff and general public by the incident, the shooting of Scorpian Boys' Nabil Dabag and the near-fatal injuries sustained by Coffin Cheaters' Troy Mercanti.

Mr McGinty said it's possible jurors could feel afraid to return a guilty verdict because of the public profile of the accused and that the threat or perceived threat posed by these cases needs to be assessed so juries can be protected adequately and the integrity of the court system ensured.

It's the first study of its kind in Australia and will be conducted by Murdoch's Judith Fordham.