NIS employee refused exemption from jury service
A MIXED jury was sworn yesterday for the trial of Ramesh Sahadeo called ‘Bodo’, who is indicted for murder at the Berbice Assizes. However, there was a brief interruption during the swearing as one of the jurors; Amanda Whyte indicated that she would be unable to attend because of her job.
Justice James Bovell-Drakes asked her where she is employed and she said National Insurance Scheme (NIS), to which the judge enquired: “They sent you here?”
The visibly upset woman said her manager was supposed to send a letter and the judge remarked:”If your manager sends a letter that will not exempt you. Jury service is important. They nominated you for jury service. The agency knows you are required to attend. If you are sick tomorrow, they will find someone to replace you. Won’t they?”
“Yes Sir,” she replied, after which she took the oath.
The indictment said the prisoner unlawfully killed 17-year-old Darshanan Ramanan, on September 20, 2009 at Bush Lot, West Coast Berbice.
The trial was adjourned to July 10.