Gillian Guess

Gillian Guess (born 1955) is a Vancouver woman who was convicted of obstruction of justice after becoming romantically involved with a murder defendant while she was a juror in his trial. Her case is significant because it set legal precedents in four areas of Canadian Law: Hers was the first case where a juror had sexual relations with a murder defendant after his trial; the only case where a juror has faced criminal sanction for the decision they have made; the only case in Canadian law where jury room discussions were made part of the public record. Regarding the sanctity of juror deliberations up until Guess was arrested there was no law in Canada that made her actions illegal. and more over, the procedures used in her trial may have violated Ms. Guess rights under the Canadian Charter. A portion of Ms. Guess trial was closed to both her and the press. Moreover, Ms. Guess' attorney was not allowed to discuss this portion of the trial with her. These restrictions may have violated Ms. Guess right to counsel.