Jury Trials have recommenced. On Tuesday, October 6, 2020, the Demerara Assizes opened and two juries were empaneled in the cases of The State v Desmond James and The State v Keron Taylor.
The judges presiding are Justice Brassington Reynolds, Justice Navindra Singh and Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry. Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry conducted another empaneling on Wednesday.
Both James and Taylor were freed on the first day of the court hearings. The judge, Justice Navindra Singh, upheld no-case submissions.
The two men who were represented by Mark Conway and Nigel Hughes, respectively, were indicted for the 2014 stabbing to death of Glendon Cox, at Aranka, North West District.
Jury trials were suspended since March due to the incidence of COVID-19. On Monday, October 5, 2020, Justice Brassington Reynolds resumed a jury trial which commenced in March 2020 but had to be adjourned due to the COVID 19 pandemic.
These resumptions are a monumental achievement as many jurisdictions worldwide have been unable to restart this essential judicial service.
The Judiciary of Guyana has been working assiduously over the past 6 months to facilitate the safe resumption of jury trials for the October Session of the Demerara Assizes.
Similar efforts are being undertaken with respect to the Essequibo and Berbice Assizes. These efforts at resuming jury trials have been in recognition of the fact that Jury service is integral to the criminal justice system of Guyana.
A number of measures have been put in place for the safe conduct of cases. For instance:
- Judges, Jurors, court staff, attorneys-at-law and all court users will be socially distanced.
- Cameras, video link and video conferencing facilities have been installed.
- Plexiglass has been placed around witness boxes, desks and other furniture
- Sanitizing dispensers are in all courtrooms and constant sanitisation of jury seating, court furniture, exhibits and the courtroom will be done.
- Temperature screening will also be conducted upon entry of everyone to the court compound.
- The summoning of a jury panel is staggered to allow for social distancing.
- Court corridors have been utilized to accommodate the empaneling of juries.
- The media is allowed to report on the trials remotely by audio visual link.
- The members of the public especially relatives of accused or victims may also view trials by video link. These measures are dealt with extensively in our protocols for the resumption of jury trials during the Covid 19 pandemic.
We are heartened by the fact that the Guyana Prison Service and the Guyana Police Force, who are all important actors in the Criminal Justice process are on board with the provision of courtrooms and IT facilities at the prison.
The Judiciary has a constitutional mandate to ensure that justice is served and the rule of law is maintained. The Judiciary of Guyana will continue its collaboration with all stakeholders to ensure that all Courts throughout the length and breadth of Guyana continue to be safe for all as they dispense justice.
