Nightclub Promoter Tarrus Axiak Allegedly Creates Precedent By Absconding From Jury Service

It is either going to be an excellent night at Elements Bar in inner Melbourne tonight, or a downright fizzer. Every Friday, the club hosts an event known as “Floorplay” which sees office-workers descend on the venue – the basement of which was originally a concrete shell used for storage – for drinks, fun and frivolity. The main man at Floorplay is Tarrus Axiak (AKA “Tarrus James”) who is apparently the presiding head promoter. But possibly not tonight. Or the week after. And if TJ isn’t there, who on earth will marshall a crowd?

We received the following rumour from an anonymous source yesterday:

FS, a very humourous story is currently circulating throughout the VicBar about a young nightclub promoter who was called for jury duty, empanelled, but later absconded because he was apparently “coming down” from a big weekend. We understand that the fellow, reporting for his most important civic duty in the County Court,  was unaware that there is legislation which makes such behaviour criminal. The interesting part is that no one we have spoken to is able to find any record of a previous “runaway juror” in Australia. It is being heard later this week and we’re told that Judge Sexton told the fellow to make sure he “brings a lawyer” on Friday.

Well it’s Friday, and sure enough – Judge Sexton has a very interesting case listed this morning:

Court 4?1  Judge Sexton

10:00 am   Tarrus AXIAK: Failing to attend for jury service pursuant to Section 71 of the Juries Act 2000

We went to the legislation to check what sort of trouble Mr Axiak might find himself in and the news isn’t good:

(3) A person who has been empanelled on a jury must not, without reasonable excuse, fail to attend as a juror until discharged by the court. Penalty: 60 penalty units or imprisonment for 6 months

Sheesh! Half a year in H Division, alongside Neville Bartos?!

Seems a bit excessive, although a six-month stint inside might be just the thing Tarrus needs to sober-up from his alleged binge. But what if he loses his coveted position as the disco king? Would that be unfair?

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Nightclub Promoter Tarrus Axiak Allegedly Creates Precedent By Absconding From Jury Service, 4.9 out of 5 based on 8 ratings