Judge Decides Verdict

[paul1763]

i heard on the news a while back(and several other times over the years) about a case where the judge "directs" the jury to a guilty or a not guilty verdict. what is the point of a jury being there if he/she has already decided the outcome. if i was on this sort of jury i thnk i would ask him why on earth i was there?

[Peter Pedant]

Newton hearing sound really crap
the old procedure was to plead not guilty and then dispute the facts
however
http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/l_to_o/newton_hearings/

no new evidence and if there is conflict between prosecution and defence verssions then the defence is preferred

which I have to say doesnt sound bad