Judge says justice system not working

A HIGH COURT judge has expressed concern about the country’s legal system. He claims it is not working at a time when there is a high level of crime. Justice Rajendra Narine, who expressed surprise at the verdict of a jury which freed a man in the San Fernando High Court on a charge of kidnapping, told the jurors the failure of the justice system “frightens me”. The nine-member jury returned the not guilty verdict in favour of accused Isaac Jouhire who had been on trial for kidnapping Asha Deo. The victim was 16-years-old when Jouhire, 40, of Suchit Trace, Penal, allegedly picked her up in his car in Penal.

After the jury declared that Jouhire was not guilty on Friday, Justice Narine told them: “Members you have done your best. I mean no disrespect. I feel compelled to say that this system of ours is not working and it frightens me. It worries me that we are going through rising crime.” During the trial, the court heard that Deo jumped out of Jouhire’s car after he drove to a lonely road in Siparia. She had asked to be dropped off in Penal. State attorney Angelica Teelucksingh prosecuted, while Subhas Panday defended Jouhire.

Justice Narine told Jouhire that he was very fortunate. He then told the jurors: “I found your verdict very surprising. The evidence before you seemed to me, was one of guilt. It seems to me that the system we have is not working.” The judge pointed out that in a recent a case with the “strongest evidence” against a man accused of a sexual offence, the verdict was not guilty. “About two months later he was arrested for murder of a lady in Rio Claro,” he said.