By Barbara Gayle, Staff ReporterTHE MICHAELMAS session of the Home Circuit Court opened yesterday with Justice Lennox Campbell making an impassioned plea for witnesses to come forward so that the huge backlog of murder cases can be disposed of expeditiously.
"When we have a traversed list with 96 murder cases, that cannot seem to be favourable in any light," the judge said.
The judge pointed out that the participation of witnesses and the public at large in the administration of justice was crucial.
"We have a formidable task ahead," Carrington Mahoney, Deputy Director of Public prosecutions, said as he gave an account of the state of the court list. He said there were 233 cases on the list, 153 of which were traversed from the previous term that had 245 cases for trial. He said there were 80 new committals, 26 of which were murder cases.
The cases for trial include 133 murder cases, 11 of which are for capital murder. There are 65 sexual offence cases, 11 wounding with intent cases and seven motor manslaughter cases.
Mr. Mahoney called for the full co-operation of everyone because crime was on the increase. He said until "we reach the stage where we can have speedy delivery we will continue to be bogged down with the cases."
Attorney-at-law Glen Cruick-shank, in pledging co-operation on behalf of the public Bar, called for the disposal of old cases in which the witnesses showed a reluctance to attend court.
In response, the judge said that the late Justice Uriah Parnell used to say it was quite obvious that an injustice takes place when an innocent man was found guilty. "It is equally clear that an injustice is committed when the guilty goes free," the judge emphasised.
The judge added that it "is very important for all concerned, and in this regard, the participation of witness and the public at large in the administration of justice is crucial." He pointed out that the system and the Bar may do as much as possible but without the involvement of the citizenry, it was likely that they would only be repeating themselves and not doing much.
"I find more people are willing to come forward to serve as jurors and I hope this will soon be demonstrated by witnesses and others called upon to serve," the judge added.
