Live video/audio link-up for jurors

JAMAAT Al Muslimeen leader Yasin Abu Bakr will be arraigned on Monday in a live video/audio link-up in certain areas of the Hall of Justice, Port-of-Spain. When he is arraigned, more than 1,100 potential jurors will be able to see and hear him on video although they will not be physically present in the Port-of-Spain Third Criminal Court. This is the first time in the history of Trinidad and Tobago that an accused person will be arraigned without all the jurors being present in the courtroom. Yesterday, Justice Mark Mohammed raised the issue of arraignment after he refused two motions brought by defence counsel Pamela Elder SC. Justice Mohammed wanted to know how to proceed with the arraignment with the large number of potential jurors scattered in various rooms on the first floor of the building.

He said that as far as he is concerned, the arraignment has to be done through the live video/audio link-up. Elder said she found nothing to show that the potential jurors must be present during arraignment. British Queen’s Counsel Sir Timothy Cassel said there are three stages during arraignment — the not guilty plea of the accused, the swearing of the jurors, and the accused being put in charge of the jury. Cassel felt that there was no need to have the potential jurors hear Bakr’s plea on the video/audio link-up. “They can be told by the clerk that the accused has pleaded not guilty,” he added. But he was certain that whatever course the judge adopts would be a valid one and would not undermine the criminal justice system. Justice Mohammed said since the practice in Trinidad and Tobago states that arraignment must take place in the presence of the potential jurors, he would ensure that they would see and hear the arraignment on the video/audio link-up.

“That is the way it should take place. They should see and hear,” the judge ruled. Elder agreed with the judge’s ruling. But the arraignment will take place at the beginning of the day if Elder has no more pre-trial issues to raise with the court. More than 1,100 potential jurors will return to the Hall of Justice on Monday for the arraignment. They have been asked to assemble at the Hall of Justice from 7.30 am with their summons for jury service. They will be required in court for 9.30 am. The authorities at the Hall of Justice worked around-the-clock yesterday to ensure that the madness and chaos which occurred last Tuesday do not happen again.

It took court officials three full hours to process the jurors and seat them in batches of 100 for the roll call. Yesterday, additional doors were marked for entry to the Hall of Justice. Staff were being briefed on getting the jurors inside the building and be seated in a much quicker time than on Tuesday. 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 Rajbansie, and George Busby. Assisting Elder are Owen Hinds Jr and Ken Wright.