Jurors advised to come with clear minds to hear new case

Potential jurors in a case scheduled to begin on Wednesday in the High Court have been urged to hear the matter with a “clear and unprejudiced mind” if they are empanelled.

Justice Carlisle Greaves gave that advice as he made reference to a case in which three men stand accused, but gave the jurors no details about the names of the accused, the nature of their charges or the identities of the defence lawyers.

He further cautioned the potential jurors against doing research or reading any newspaper, social media or other publication in connection with the case, which could result in the matter being “prejudiced or jeopardized”.

Justice Greaves said: “I would not wish you to speculate whatsoever about this matter – what it is about, when it is about, where it is about or whom it is about. I know that you are human beings and you were born with curiosity, but you should not let that influence you whatsoever. I am going to direct you, instruct you not to read any publication whatsoever concerning this matter, whether it be by the newspapers or social media or visual media . . . by your neighbours, by your friends, by your family or anybody whatsoever.

“The reason for that is, I wish you to come with a clear and unprejudiced mind . . . hear the evidence in this case and judge it according to the evidence and the law which will be put before you,” the judge added.

Justice Greaves made it clear that every accused or complainant must have a fair trial.

“. . . . You would want that had you been in the dock as an accused, or on the stand as a complainant, that the jury hearing your case is fair and untainted . . . and judge your case by the evidence and the law as applied, and reach a verdict according to the oath that you are going to take,” he said.

Justice Greaves also warned the jurors – from which a panel of nine will be selected before the matter gets underway before him in the No 3 Supreme Court tomorrow – not to contradict his caution.

“Sometimes it has been shown that just because the judge says ‘don’t do it’, some people would want to test it. Do not do that. You have no personal interest in this case, I think, but to determine the justice that is merited. So, please do not prejudice the case or jeopardize the case by putting yourself in a position that will result in you being excluded either before or during the trial.

“Before you are selected, I am going to give you further directions and will tell you what kind of case this is; the names of the accused. You are going to hear where it happened, when it happened, how it happened, allegedly, and I am going to give you directions on how you must further conduct yourselves during the selection process,” Justice Greaves added.