Bookworm at Trial Disqualifies Self
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HONG KONG — A judge has abandoned a trial after admitting he read a book during seven days of legal argument.
Court officials said Thursday that Judge Patrick O’Dea, 47, discharged himself from hearing a robbery case after both prosecution and defense lawyers complained on Wednesday that he had been reading a book.
The Hong Kong Judiciary issued a statement confirming that the judge had been reading a law book. The case, in which five men face robbery and handling stolen goods charges, will be retried by another judge. Lawyers estimated that the aborted trial cost the taxpayers in the region of $11,300.
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