Headlines:
| 300 cases to be tried in the Home Circuit Court Easter Session |
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| Wednesday, 26 March 2008 | |
A record
300 criminal cases are down to be tried in the Easter Session of the Home
Circuit Court.This was disclosed on Wednesday by newly appointed Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Paula Llewellyn. Speaking at Wednesday's opening of the Circuit Court, Ms Llewellyn noted that 301 cases are listed to be heard. Of this figure there are 183 murder cases. The DPP promised that her office will do everything possible to try and clear the massive backlog of cases clogging the system. Ms Llewellyn called on the private bar, police and judges to join the DPP's office in wading through the massive pile up of cases. She argued that a culture of delay has crept into the local judiciary and this has contributed to the massive backlog. Presiding judge, Ms Justice Christine McDonald called on attorneys who have clients prepared to enter guilty pleas to make contact with the registrar's office by early next month. The judge said this will go a far way in clearing the backlog. |