By Paul A. Reid, Staff ReporterWESTERN BUREAU:
All murder cases and those involving multiple defendants set for trial in the current sitting of the Hilary Session of the St James Circuit Court have had to be postponed as there are not enough jurors to try these matters.
Of the 400 summonses that were issued, only 23 persons have turned up for jury duty and as a result, the court was not able to proceed with a number of cases that were scheduled for trial.
Crown Counsel Ms Gayle Walters who is leading the prosecution on behalf of the government described the situation as a "disgrace". "St. James will have to do better than this," she said.
The session that is being presided over by Mrs Justice Hazel Harris, started on January 7 and is scheduled to end this Friday.
NOTHING NEW
The Gleaner understands that the situation with the shortage of jurors affecting the sitting of Circuit Court is nothing new but according to one source at the Montego Bay Resident Magistrates Court, "the situation is getting worse."
The source told The Gleaner that they have had this problem before and it was not the first time that they have had to postpone cases because of the lack of jurors.
The names of potential jurors are taken from the current voters list and are issued by the Supreme Court.
Ms Walters told The Gleaner that there needs to be a pool of at least 30 jurors for murder or treason cases as those charges require a panel of 12 persons.
With the defence and the prosecution each having seven challenges and giving leeway for people being sick or dropping out for whatever reasons, 23 persons are not enough to start a case.
Several non-murder cases have been completed, however Ms Gayle explained that the jury for those cases require only seven members with the defence and prosecution having five challenges each.
The murder cases from this sitting will now be traversed to March or to the next sitting of the Circuit Court in April.
