Earlier start for jurors in Bakr Trial

IN AN ATTEMPT to avoid a repeat of the chaos and madness at the Hall of Justice last Tuesday, the Judiciary has asked more than 1,100 jurors to turn up at the city courthouse next Monday at 7.30 am — a full two hours before the resumption of hearing in the conspiracy to murder trial of Jamaat-al- Muslimeen leader Yasin Abu Bakr. According to a notice sent out by the Judiciary yesterday, all jurors who are required to return to the Port-of-Spain Third Criminal Court on Monday, have been advised to have their summons for jury service ready, to present them on entry to the Hall of Justice from 7.30 am.

Normally, the Hall of Justice opens at 8 am to the public, but because of the madness which occurred on Tuesday, the authorities are opening the door half an hour earlier, hoping to seat the jurors in time for the start of the day’s proceedings at 9.30 am. The process is expected to be easier on Monday as all the jurors know exactly where they are required to sit. The earlier start means that jurors will have to leave their homes much earlier to arrive at the Hall of Justice by 7.30 am. Some jurors live as far as Sangre Grande in the East, Chaguanas in Central, and Chaguaramas in the West.

The jurors will have to pass through one entrance at the Hall of Justice, although the building has other entrances which are used by staff, security personnel, judges, police and prisoners. The Judiciary Security Unit, which handles security matters at all court houses in the country, will increase personnel at the Hall of Justice, along with MTS officers who have been posted at all court rooms. Everyone entering the Hall of Justice, with the exception of attorneys, will be searched. Knox Street will be closed off to vehicular traffic today as the case continues before Justice Mark Mohammed.

The judge is expected to rule at 10 am on submissions made by lead defence attorney Pamela Elder SC on Wednesday. The Supreme Court summoned 1,163 potential jurors for Bakr’s case. but on Tuesday, several were exempted for various reasons, while others just did not show up. Bakr, 63, is charged jointly with David “Buffy” Millard and others with conspiring to murder expelled Jamaat members Salim Rasheed and Zaki Aubaidah on June 4, 2003 at Citrine Drive, Diamond Vale, Diego Martin. British Queen’s Counsel Sir Timothy Cassel is leading the prosecution’s team along with Director of Public Prosecutions Geoffrey Henderson, Wayne Rajbansee, and George Busby.