Judge challenges objecting Jehovah Witness but excuses him
DAVID  D’Oliviera, a Jehovah’s Witness who refused to sit as a juror in a murder case at the Demerara Assizes for religious reasons, was challenged by Justice Winston Patterson on Thursday. The potential juror was among 12 persons selected to try the two accused in the Enterprise murder case but he declined to take the oath, on the ground that he was forbidden, by his religion, to judge others and asked to be excused.
In response to the judge’s challenge, D’Oliviera explained that, as a member of the religion, his attitude stemmed from the Holy Bible.
Justice Patterson, a lay reader in one of the recognised Christian denominations, sent a Holy Bible, with a Court Marshal, to the objector, challenging him to peruse it and identify the passage where it is recorded as unlawful to serve on the jury in a murder trial.
D’Oliviera, realising  he would be unsuccessful in the quest, declared: “We believe that judgment belongs to the Big Man upstairs.”
The judge told him: “What you are defending cannot hold water. Your reason has no merit. You will never find what you are looking for.”
Justice Patterson then summoned the lawyers from the Bar Table to the Bench but their brief exchange was inaudible.
Addressing D’Oliviera, again, the judge admonished him: “You have no reason for asking but I will excuse you from sitting in this case. In the interest of justice and fair-play, I will excuse you.”
Another juror was selected to replace the excused man, in the proceedings which will continue on Monday.