Absentee Jurors fined EC$25
By Pauline Waruguru
Nevis Reporter-SKNVibes.com
~~Adz:Right~~ CHARLESTOWN, Nevis - JURORS who missed impanelment at the Nevis High Court Criminal Assizes were each fined EC$25.
Her Ladyship, Justice Ianthea Leigertwood-Octave, imposed the fine after she learnt that some jurors did not turn up for selection at the April Criminal Assizes on Monday.
Refering to the section of the law that empowers her to fine the jurors, she said no juror would be entitled to be excused except if exempted by a judge or registrar “upon reasonable cause sworn upon oath on a certificate purporting to be signed”. She said the law was very clear on this.
“A medical certificate is not in itself enough, only when it is submitted and viewed by a judge,” Her Ladyship told the members of the jury. She said should a juror absent himself or herself, a sufficient cause has to be established on oath, “if you lie, you commit perjury. It is a very serious matter”.
She advised the jurors to arrange their daily schedule and noted that sessions did not require them to sit continuously in court throughout any given day unless required to do so.
Justice Ianthea Leigertwood-Octave recommended that the laws be reviewed to increase the EC$25 maximum fine to EC$500. She said the maximum amount a jury could be fined in Montserrat is EC$3 000.
