A juror who used the internet to do his own background research has caused a murder trial in Victoria's Supreme Court to be aborted.
On Wednesday, Justice Lex Lasry expressed his frustration while in the courtroom, saying the juror had acted in "direct contradiction" to his instructions to the 14-person panel.
The person was part of the jury panel in the Ricardo Barbaro murder trial, which yesterday included opening remarks by the prosecution and the defence, as well as evidence from one witness.
Mr Barbaro has pleaded not guilty to murdering his girlfriend Ellie Price at her South Melbourne apartment in 2019.
"It's going to be necessary for me to discharge you as a jury. One of your number has made inquiries outside this courtroom and on the internet about this case," Justice Lasry said.
"I propose to refer the cause of this to the Director of Public Prosecutions."
When the jury was empanelled earlier this week, Justice Lasry told them not to look up details about the case online.
"I point out to you is that you are not able to make any investigations or inquiries or conduct any form of independent research concerning any aspect of this case or any person connected with it," he told the panel.
A new jury will be empanelled and a retrial will occur at a later date.
