9-member jury finally sworn in

IT TOOK four full days, but a nine-member jury (five men and four women) has finally been empanelled to hear the evidence against Jamaat-al- Muslimeen leader Yasin Abu Bakr on a charge of conspiracy to murder two expelled members of his group. The final three jurors were sworn in yesterday, the last at 3.35 p.m. All that is left now is for four alternates to be sworn in, Justice Mark Mohammed announced at the end of the day’s hearing.

Between Wednesday and Friday last week, the court was able to swear in just six jurors, as many were either challenged for cause, challenged peremptorily, or exempted for various reasons. No more than 13 jurors were questioned on any particular day. When hearing resumed yesterday in the Port-of-Spain Third Criminal Court, emphasis was placed on finding the final three jurors. Everything moved faster yesterday and at the end of the day, 25 potential jurors had been questioned. Eventually, the three jurors needed were found unchallengeable and they were sworn in. But four potential jurors were not so lucky. Ronald Reid, David Peters, Knolly Bobb, and Colin Kerr were each fined $400 with an alternative of 30 days in jail after they were reported absent at the Hall of Justice yesterday.

During yesterday’s session, there was one occasion when there was lusty applause when the name of one potential juror was called. The courtroom where he was erupted in joy when that juror was called. The noise was even heard in the Third Criminal Court and everyone wondered about the popularity of this individual. That juror was not challenged for cause, but was the defence’s third peremptory challenge. After the nine main jurors were sworn, Justice Mohammed indicated that the court needs four alternates to serve. Efforts will be made today to swear in the alternates. Justice Mohammed pointed out yesterday that the role of an alternate was as important as a main juror. He said that if during the course of the trial, which is expected to last one month, one of the regular jurors falls seriously ill, then an alternate juror will take up the baton in the jury box. The alternate jurors, according to the judge, must hear all the evidence in the trial. If the alternate jurors are not needed to replace the main jurors, they will be discharged at the end of the trial and before the jury retires to consider the verdict.

Although more than 100 jurors have been questioned and/or exempted for various reasons, there are still close to 300 potential jurors at the Hall of Justice. Bakr, 63, is charged with conspiring with Brent “Big Brent” Miller, David “Buffy” Millard, Dwight, Crock, Skins, and Damien, on June 4, 2003 at Citrine Drive, Diamond Vale, Diego Martin, to murder Salim Rasheed and Zaki Aubaidah. Pamela Elder and Owen Hinds Jr will appear for Bakr, while Sir Timothy Cassel QC, DPP Geoffrey Henderson, and State attorneys Wayne Rajbansie and George Busby will represent the State. Hearing resumes this morning.