Tortoise called up for jury service

A 17-year-old tortoise called Max Schell has been summoned for jury service in Massachusetts.

The animal is listed on Boston's election records as a male with an unknown date of birth and occupation.

Owner Stephanie McLaughlin keeps her pet's name on her mailbox, which led to it accidentally being included on voting registers.

Election officials say they passed on the information from annual records to Suffolk County jury commissioners, who had no reason to doubt he was qualified to serve.

Ms McLaughlin told the Boston Globe: "It would appear they are scraping the bottom of the barrel. He would clam up in the event the defendant scares him.

"I don't think he has a good enough handle on the criminal justice system to make any informed decisions."