Judge concerned over attempt to bully jurors

A HIGH Court judge has ex-pressed concern at reported attempts by undisclosed persons to intimidate members of a panel of jurors who had found a murder accused guilty of the lesser count of manslaughter. Sitting in the Port-of-Spain Fourth Criminal Court, Justice Anthony Carmona declared the serious manner in which the court viewed matters of such nature, which he described as, “striking at the very foundation of the administration of justice in this country.” The 12-member panel had found 27-year-old Aaron Ali of Morne Coco Road, Petit Valley, guilty of manslaughter on January 4.

Ali had been on trial for the murder of Marlon “Fygee” John on June 28, 2002, at Roots Corner, Morne Coco Road, Petit Valley. State witness Chester Williams, the only eye-witness, had testified that Ali had shot John without provocation. In his defence, however, Ali said he had accidently shot John while fending off an attack by the deceased. Ali was scheduled to be sentenced yesterday pending a probation officer’s report, but when the matter was called, the report was not available. The matter was adjourned to February 17, when the jurors will return at the judge’s request. The defence is expected to make a mitigation plea on that same day. Ali will be sentenced on February 18.