BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – DENZIL BROWNE, a juror who failed to show up at the opening of the new Criminal Assizes on Tuesday, January 18, was on February 16, ordered by His Lordship Justice Errol Thomas to pay a fine of EC$250 for each day he failed to show up at the Basseterre High Court.
Failing to show up at the Courthouse falls under the term ‘Contempt of court’, which is conduct that is disobedient, obstructive or contemptuous to the court.
Browne failed to show up in court for a total of 17 days without notice and was ordered to pay a fine of EC$4 250 forthwith or spend 17 days in jail.
Browne was summoned among 30 jurors to fulfill jury duties for the new criminal assizes but only showed up in court on Wednesday, February, 16.
When asked by his Lordship to explain the reason for his absence, Browne told the court that he had left the federation on January 2.
He told the court that a bailiff brought the summons to him in December, 2010 and he told the person that he was unsure if he would be able to undertake the duties because he was scheduled to be overseas at the time the assizes would have started.
The engineer explained that the reason for his absence was to witness the birth of his daughter.
In response to why he did not inform the court of his intention, Browne told the judge that he was unfamiliar with the court procedures and did not know what steps he was supposed to take to inform of his absence.
He also said it was the first time in his life that he had entered a courtroom.
“That is no excuse! You should have found some way of informing the court. You are an engineer, which means you have some level of intelligence…there is no excuse. You will pay $250 for each day you were absent from court,” His Lordship said.
According to the Juries Act, 1976, “Failing to attend for jury service without reasonable excuse, or not being available when called upon to serve as a juror or being unfit for service by reason of drink or drugs are punishable by fines”.
