DESPITE a heavy downpour yesterday morning in the capital City, Justice James Bovell-Drakes continued inspecting the Guard of Honour, at the opening ceremony of the January criminal sessions at the Demerara Assizes.

Seemingly unbothered by the rainfall, the experienced High Court Judge stuck to his task while some spectators ran for shelter.

Minutes later, Judge Bovell-Drakes was on the dais, taking the salute during the March Past of the parade which culminated in the conclusion of the traditional ceremonial event, to mark the opening of the January Session.

At the conclusion of the parade, the judges and other officials retired to the Chief Justice’s Chambers, where they were treated to juices and not champagne that used to be the norm.

Justice Bovell-Drakes later entered his Chambers where he entertained applications from jurors who were seeking to get away from the jury service, for one reason or another.

The judge told the jurors that the jury service was important and very difficult to discard except in cases of illness or compelling circumstances.

However, before ordering the selection of jurors, the judge enquired whether anyone was under the age of 18 years.

Strange enough, one girl claimed that she was and was able to prove it. She was exempted from serving. None of the would-be jurors were older than 60 years.

But the judge found that among the gathering there were about 4 persons who had served continuously as jurors for the past two years, rendering them incapable of serving for the time being.

Before the selection began for 12 jurors to sit in a murder case the judge told them of their right to make sure that they confine themselves to the evidence led in Court by witnesses and not what they might have read in the press and heard on the radio or seen on television.
He also warned them to be aware of dishonest persons who might want to speak to them about the cases.
According to him, they must tell such persons that they do not wish to hear anything, and should they persist, the jurors concerned should report the matter to their foreman, who would report the matter to the Court.

(By George Barclay)