DPP eager for legislative changes to address jury tampering issue

 

By Kimone Witter 

 

 

Director of Public Prosecutions Claudette Thompson is eagerly anticipating the passage of the amendment to the Jury Act that will give judges more powers to continue a trial, in the absence of the jury, if confronted by allegations of jury tampering.

 

Debate on proposed amendments to the Act started in the House of Representatives on Tuesday.

 

Speaking Friday on the Morning Agenda on Power 106, the DPP said the prosecution feels the brunt of the outcome in a case when there is jury tampering.

 

"And so we have made our own suggestions in terms of what the law should look like in its amended state. And as an office, we're sitting and waiting to see what will happen. We are careful about commenting on policy, but we have made it known that as far as we are concerned, it shouldn't be the case to approach a juror in any way or form, and then the case just dies; we have to just stop and start all over. It means that the witnesses will have to start all over. And we do not think that that is the best approach. So we are looking forward to an amendment that will allow us to continue the trial even when jurors are improperly approached," she said. 

 

Under the proposed amendments, where there is evidence of jury tampering or a real and present danger that jury tampering would take place, and the interest of justice demands it, a judge may discharge the jury and order that the trial be conducted without a jury. 

 

The issue of jury tampering was raised before the UK-based Privy Council in the case of Vybz Kartel.