Dale Paterson, 18, was being tried over the death of 71-year-old taxi driver Raymond Quigley, who suffered a fatal heart attack during a struggle about a fare.
As the proceedings entered their sixth day yesterday at Newcastle Crown Court, Judge David Hodson received a three-page list containing 37 questions about the case - and a map from Google Earth of the scene.
It then emerged one of the jurors had been carrying out his own investigations. The court heard the man had:
* been to the death scene and photographed it;
* measured a fence which is at the centre of evidence;
* carried out research into his own theories about what might have happened on the night.
Among the varied questions he passed to the judge included demands for more information on Patterson's baggy skateboard-style clothing.
The middle-aged juror also wanted to know whether there were any clues from his mobile telephone and bank statements.
He also asked whether the jury could hear the audiotape of the police interview of a prosecution witness.
The questions indicated the juror must have visited the scene of the incident, and contained information which neither the prosecution nor the defence had put before the panel to consider.
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