Chief Justice Zaila McCalla has issued a strong warning that there will no longer be a situation in the courts where witnesses turn up only to be told that the cases cannot be tried.

She made the disclosure yesterday while opening the Hilary session of the Home Circuit Court, which was marked with a colourful ceremony in Justice Square on King Street, downtown Kingston.

The new session has 376 cases listed for trial. The list has 206 murder cases and 124 sexual offence cases.

The chief justice also advised defence lawyers not to set several cases for trial on the same day. She said there were now four additional criminal courts and the expectation "is that when a case comes before the court, it will be tried".

She said there was going to be a change in the Gun Court list and the culture of delay in that court would no longer take place.

Plans are also to be put in place for there to be case management conferences in criminal cases so as to shorten criminal trials, the chief justice disclosed.

Commitment and integrity

Director of Public Prosecutions Paula Llewellyn described the list as a formidable one, but said her department was ready to work hand in hand with all the stakeholders in the justice system to dispose of the cases. She also called for an alliance of all law-abiding citizens with stakeholders in the justice system so people could be assured that there was commitment and integrity at the heart of the justice system.

Defence lawyer Tom Tavares-Finson pledged support on behalf of the private Bar. He said he was indicating to the court and the wider public that the members of the Bar stood ready to be a part of the alliance of which Llewellyn spoke. He was also hoping for a significant reduction of the cases in the Gun Court.

barbara.gayle@gleanerjm.com