Lawyers boycott Easter session opening of St Thomas Circuit

Barbara Gayle, Staff Reporter

Lawyers who are representing accused persons in the St Thomas Circuit Court boycotted today’s opening of the Easter session.

One lawyer explained that they were fed up with the long delay in completing the courthouse in Morant Bay.

He said one of the reasons for the boycott is to remind the government of the financial hardships accused persons and witnesses face to attend court in Kingston.

This is the fourth time over the last two years that the lawyers are protesting.

Justice Evan Brown, who opened the new session at the Yallahs Resident Magistrate's Court, St Thomas, says he hopes the lawyers will come to the Home Circuit Court in Kingston to represent their clients.

The St Thomas Circuit Court is being held in Kingston since 2007 following a fire which gutted the Morant Bay courthouse.

The building for the new courthouse in Morant Bay is completed but has not yet been furnished.

One lawyer explained that they will come to Kingston to mention the cases but have no plan to try cases in Kingston because the accused persons must be tried in St. Thomas.

There are 50 cases listed for trial during the term, six are murder cases and more than 70 per cent are sexual offence cases.

barbara.gayle@gleanerjm.com