Juror chided for Instagram post

The judge in the Gable Tostee trial rebuked the actions of one of the jurors who yesterday cleared the 30-year-old of murder.

The carpet layer was found not guilty of murdering New Zealander Warriena Wright after a nine-day trial in the Brisbane Supreme Court.

The 12-member jury also cleared Tostee of manslaughter in relation to Wright’s death on August 8, 2014, after a Tinder date went terribly wrong. Tostee and Wright had met through the dating app. Wright died when she fell from Tostee's 14th floor Surfer’s Paradise apartment balcony.

Tostee pleaded not guilty to her murder.

Justice John Byrne criticised a juror’s “disappointing” actions in posting a series of Instagram pictures while empanelled.

The posts were mostly pictures of coffee accompanied by musings such as “snagged a nasty one which is a bit full on” and “fingers crossed this is the last day of jury duty”.

Tostee’s legal team tried unsuccessfully to have the jury discharged over the posts.

Tostee’s family gasped and cried in the courtroom as he was acquitted. Wright’s family was also brought to tears following the decision, as were members of the jury as they delivered their verdict.

A spokeswoman for Wright's family said outside the court the case had been “incredibly dramatic for everyone involved . . . let alone the families”.

“They are still coming to terms with the loss of their daughter and sister.

“They've been quite overwhelmed by the media, which has added to their distress.”

They thanked the police and agencies involved in the investigation and trial, before asking for privacy.

“So they have an opportunity to pull the pieces of their life back together again and have the space to grieve and breathe.”

An investigating officer in the case has also spoken to media following Tostee's acquittal.

He praised the Wright family for the “strength and courage they have shown during these proceedings”.

Wright's death would now be referred to the state coroner, he said.

Tostee’s lawyer, Nick Dore, said: “He is looking forward to moving on with his life.”