DIRECTOR of Public Prosecutions Paula Llewellyn has called on Parliament to amend the Jury Act to allow for majority verdict in murder cases.

The amendment being requested by Llewellyn would allow the court to convict persons of murder even if all members of the jury do not agree.

Parliament has had the matter on its Order Paper since last year. It is part of the menu of Govern-ment's six crime bills.

The DPP's statement came after two jurors in Clarendon were accused of collecting money from the relatives of an accused man in exchange for a not-guilty verdict.

Under the Jury Act, a 12-member jury must return a unanimous guilty verdict for an accused to be convicted of murder.

daraine.luton@gleanerjm.com