The King v Bechaud [2026] HCA 36

The King v Bechaud [2026] HCA 36 concerns the separation of jurors during deliberations in a Victorian rape trial. The jurors had taken the prescribed oath on the first day of trial, nine days before retiring, and were not reminded of it before two separations. The High Court held that s 50 of the Juries Act 2000 (Vic) requires the oath to be taken before separation, but imposes no requirement of temporal proximity or a reminder. The oath ordinarily continues to bind jurors, and the trial judge’s discretion had not miscarried. The Crown’s appeal was allowed, the Victorian Court of Appeal’s orders were set aside, and Bechaud’s conviction appeal was dismissed.