Edited sentence: At least one judge must concur with the majority vote from the lay jurors in regards to a guilty verdict, however a majority not guilty verdict by the lay judges will stand.During the inaugural case, the citizens relied on the professional judges to help ascertain a sentence for the verdict decided upon, however felt confident in their interpretation of the trial arguments presented by prosecution and defence.Professional lawyers and poliiticans may not serve as lay juorors in the new system.Six citizens become lay judges to join three professional judges to determine the verdict and sentencing of the defendent.The citizen jurors are allowed to put forward questions to the defendants, witnesses and victims during the course of the trial.The first trial by citizen jurors, “saiban-in,”began August 3, 2009 under a new law passed in 2004.The first trial by jury lasted four days where some criminal cases may last years under the old system.The historic trial of 72 year old Katsuyoshi Fujii who stabbed his 66  year old neighbour to death was highly televised.The jurors selected must be voters, 20 years old and possess a secondary level education.The new system aims to abolish forced confessions and provide a speedier, more democratic justice system according to Eisuke Sato, the justice minister