MURDER TRAIL ON FORMER SKY BANK GENERAL MANAGER: STATE COUNSEL INSISTS ON JURORS TO BE EMPANELED
By Morlai Sesay
Following a decision made by the Supreme Court for the murder trial to be done by a judge and jury, State Counsel lawyer AGM Bockarie has, on Tuesday, 6th February 2024, pleaded with Justice Adrain Fisher for jurors to be empaneled, which Section 161 of the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone clearly stated.
He said this during the murder trial of an accused person, Ikubolaje Nicol, at the High Court.
Ahmed James Bockarie, State Counsel, insisted that the list of jurors must be provided to the court and that the jurors need to be empaneled as per Section 161 of the Constitution. He added that the list presented in court showed a pool of colleagues and employees of the former Sky Bank General Manager, which has the potential to delay the court proceedings.
Bockarie empathized that the Registrar must summon the list of jurors in a particular order and on a separate note. He referred the court to Section 174 of the Constitution of Sierra Leone, which explains that there must be names of jurors’ sermons on a separate piece of paper. In addition, Section 174 reveals that jurors’ names must be summoned at the court's seating.
Lawyer Roland Wright, Defence Counsel for the accused, replied that 10 names of jurors must be added. He mentioned that the initial list provided 120 potential jurors who were presented in court.
James Bockarie and Roland Wright argued on Sections 174 and 178 of the Constitution.
Lawyer Roland Wright informed the court that his client had spent several days incarcerated. He urged Justice Fisher for a speedy trial.
Honourable Justice Fisher requested a maximum of 20 jurors’ names, including those I present. Justice Fisher adjourned the matter to Tuesday, 13th February 2024.
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