By Fatima Kpaka
Following a decision made by the Supreme Court for the murder trial to be done by a judge and jury, State Counsel, lawyer AGM Bockarie has on Tuesday 6th February 2024 pleaded with Justice Adrian Fisher for jurors to be empaneled which Section 161 of the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone clearly stated.
He made the statement during the murder trial of accused person Ikubolaje Nicol, a former Manager at Sky Bank.
Ahmed James Bockarie, State Counsel insisted that the list of jurors must be provided to the court, and that jurors need to be empaneled as per Section 161 of Constitution. He added that the list which had been presented in court showed that there was a pool of colleague employees of the former Sky Bank General Manager, who had the potential to delay the court proceedings.
Bockarie emphasized that the Registrar must summon the list of jurors in a particular order, and on a separate note. He referred the court to Section 174 of the Constitution of Sierra Leone, which explains that there must be names of jurors summon on a separate piece of paper. In addition, Section 174 reveals that at the seating of the court, names of jurors must be summoned.
Lawyer Roland Wright, Counsel for the accused, in reply said that there must be an addition of 10 names of jurors. He mentioned that the initial list provided 120 potential jurors who had been presented in court.
Both James Bockarie and Roland Wright argued on Section 174 and 178 of the Constitution.
Lawyer Roland Wright informed the court that his client had spent quite a number of days in incarceration. He urged Justice Fisher for a speedy trial of the matter.
Honorable Justice Fisher requested for a maximum of 20 names of jurors inclusive of those he presented.
Justice Fisher adjourned the matter to Tuesday 13th February 2024.