Which factor could lead to the formation of a hung jury?

Get ready for your SACE Stage 2 Legal Studies Exam. Enhance your understanding with engaging multiple choice questions and explanations. Stay confident and prepared!

The formation of a hung jury occurs when jurors are unable to reach a consensus on the verdict, often due to differing opinions or interpretations regarding the evidence presented in the case. In this context, conflicting interpretations of the evidence among jurors create difficulty in achieving agreement. When jurors assess the same evidence but arrive at different conclusions based on their perceptions, reasoning, or biases, it can lead to a stalemate where no unanimous decision can be made. This is the essence of a hung jury, as it signifies that the jurors have not been able to overcome their differences despite deliberation.

Other factors, such as all jurors agreeing on guilt or innocence, reaching unanimity before deliberation starts, or the existence of overwhelming evidence, usually facilitate a decision rather than hinder it. These scenarios promote agreement rather than the discord among jurors necessary to form a hung jury.

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