October 14, 2026
Jury Amendment Bill passed with changes to address tampering
Written byPatrice Walters
The Jury Amendment Bill was passed with 5 amendments in the Lower House yesterday.
The legislation seeks to, among other things, allow a trial judge to proceed with a case after the jury has been discharged, due to tampering.
In her contribution to the debate on the Bill, prior to its passage, Opposition Spokesperson on Justice Zuleika Jess argued that while jury intimidation or tampering must be addressed, the rights of accused persons cannot be overlooked in the process.
Jess proposed additional protections, including the right to appeal decisions allowing trials without a jury.
And, Opposition Spokesperson on Human Rights Isat Buchanan described the Bill as dangerous.
Buchanan cited the Vybz Kartel case as among the matters that prompted the proposed legislative amendments for jury trials.
He expressed concern that the Bill does not outline what should happen if there is an issue with the judge, even after the jury has been discharged.
In response, Justice Minister Delroy Chuck noted that its acceptable for the same trial judge to continue hearing a case.
