A SUPREME court trial was thrown out last week after an alleged threat was made to a juror.
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Co-accused Jay Ashley Whatley, Zane Andrew Henderson, Coby Wells, and another male – whose name has been suppressed – were on trial for allegedly brutalising a woman and forcing her to eat dog food at Ravenswood on October 16, 2014.
Savannah Jade Harwood was also on trial for allegedly threatening the woman with death the following day.
Last Thursday in Launceston, Justice Robert Pearce called a mistrial, however, when the unnamed man - who was a youth in 2014 - allegedly said to a juror: "I can see another dog, bang, bang" and gestured shooting using his hand.
The man was charged with contempt of court following the alleged incident.
Police are also investigating and are considering prosecution under the Juries Act 2003.
The unusual scenario saw the entire jury discharged, with a new trial to be held at a later date.
The man was bailed in the supreme court to reappear on the contempt charge on August 8.
The man was also bailed to reappear on his assault charge.
During the trial last week, the court heard the males allegedly forced the woman to consume the dog food, burnt her, sprayed aerosol in her eyes, shot her with a stun gun, and hit her with a sock that contained a bar of soap, among other acts.
The alleged "deprivation of liberty" occurred because the woman owed money to Ms Harwood.
It is alleged that after the group of males attacked the woman, Ms Harwood told her: “If you tell the police you’ll end up in a hole and no one will know you are missing.”
It is not alleged that Ms Harwood was involved in the assault, however.
The Crown had alleged that two of the men attacked the woman in defence of Ms Harwood.
The duo were joined in their exploits by Mr Henderson and the unnamed man to “exact some sort of revenge”.
