Mirren: female jurors biased

Published on Sunday 16 November 2008 23:31

SEXUAL jealousy means female jurors are less likely to sympathise with rape victims, Oscar-winning actress Dame Helen Mirren said yesterday.

She said lawyers defending a man on trial for rape would prefer more women on the jury, as they would believe the victim "was asking for it".

Her comments came in a discussion about competition between women in an interview to promote her latest film, Inkheart.

Dame Helen, 63, said: "In a rape case, the courts – in defence of a man – would select as many women as they could, because women go against women."

She has admitted having been a victim of date rape.