Defence lawyers and prosecutors are calling on the authorities to erect hand rails at the jury boxes in the Home Circuit Court for the safety of jurors.

The call was made yesterday when a female juror, who was leaving the jury box to consider the verdict in a murder case, slipped and fell from the wooden steps in the jury box.

Second time this week

It was the second time this week that a female juror had fallen from the steps. On Monday, a female juror fell while she was leaving the jury box for lunch.

Lawyers who were in court said the safety of the jurors was of "paramount importance" and the authorities should take immediate steps to erect hand rails to prevent serious injury to jurors who have to serve under adverse conditions.

One lawyer said the authorities should not wait until a juror was seriously injured before steps were taken to remedy the situation.