Judge apologises to juror after Quran oath 'error'

A judge has apologised to a murder trial juror who was not given the option of swearing an oath on the Quran.

The woman swore an oath on the Bible on Monday prior to the start of a trial at Northampton Crown Court.

But Judge Rebecca Crane apologised on Tuesday for "our error" and gave the woman the chance to swear an oath again - this time on the Quran.

The judge said she had not realised that the woman did not want to use the Bible.

Judge Crane is overseeing a trial of a 46-year-old man accused of murdering a 71-year-old grandfather.

John Boyle died after being attacked at his flat in Leatherland Court, Kettering, in October 2025, jurors have heard.

John Mills, 46, of Marriott Street, Northampton, denies murder. The trial is due to end later this month.

Jurors are required to either make a promise to be fair or to swear on a holy book of their choice.

They take an oath, or affirm, to try defendants based only on the evidence they hear in court.

A court official randomly selects jurors from a panel and asks them to take oaths, prior to the start of trials.

The jury at Northampton was formally sworn in on Monday.

"I do apologise to you," Judge Crane told the affected juror on Tuesday.

"The information that you wanted to take your oath on the Quran was not communicated to us.

"I am very sorry for our error."

The juror accepted the judge's offer to take an oath for a second time and, on Tuesday, used the Quran.

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