A barrister is believed to have become the first person ever to be sworn in as a juror by taking an oath on a river. 

Paul Powlesland, of London set Garden Court Chambers, said he dipped his fingers in water taken from the River Roding and swore an oath by that river, which flows through Essex to London and feeds into Barking Creek as it reaches the River Thames.

Powlesland is serving at Snaresbrook Crown Court and said the judge there had never heard of a situation where someone wanted to swear on a part of nature before.

Posting on X (formerly Twitter), Powlesland said: ‘I explained that nature was my god & I treat the Roding with the same reverence, sacredness & love in action as many religious people give to their holy book. On this basis he was prepared to allow an oath on the river, as long as I gave an affirmation as well, which I did.’

 

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