Letter of the Day | Urgent need for system reform to protect jurors

THE EDITOR, Madam:

The long overdue eradication of the jury system, seems to be imminent, but unfortunately, as the debate intensifies, a partisan element seems to be taking centre stage, and might well upstage the process.

People who have had practical experience with the system, those voices should be heard, but, this is not a matter that should be supported or not supported because of partisan interests.

In one of the recent gang trials, a defence lawyer was employing some gymnastics talks to prove the innocence of his clients, and the trial judge reminded him that such tactics were not necessary, because it was not a jury trial.

I have served as a foreman juror on rape and murder trials.

When I was called to serve as a juror, I did everything not to serve, but, maybe I was not as smart as others who were successful in their ploys to evade being selected, and so soon as I stated my line of work, defence lawyers objected to me, but I was selected, when they were unable find persons.

I was approached by a man to set the accused person free, I discussed the matter with a friend who was also a senior police officer, and I was advised to make a report to the court.

At court the next day, I informed the other members of the jury about the person approaching me, and asking me not find the accused guilty. Several other jurors said they were also requested to free the accused person.

We all made reports to the court, and the person who approached us was arrested and later given a prison sentence.

Years later, while walking in Spanish Town late one night a voice from behind me shouted about three times, “lf yuh want bly, yuh fi give bly. A yuh mi a talk juror bwoy.” By this time the person was beside me, pointing at me. He was the same man who had served time in prison for attempting to pervert the course of justice, in the murder trial where I was the Foreman Juror. I positioned myself to make a forceful defence, if was physically attacked, he realised it, and he walked away.

The system needs to be reformed, so that the guilty cannot be free because they can corrupt the jurors, or the jurors making decisions because they are bamboozled with emotional arguments.

GARFIELD ANGUS

Manchester