“I don’t want to be teased because I can explode at any juror who will stand on my way or attempt to undermine my court in delivering justice to whom justice is due,” Justice Sesay stated.
He was speaking during court proceeding in which one of the jurors, Sheik Osman Dumbuya was conspicuously absent, thus making it impossible for the presiding judge to proceed with the trial of the accused, Amadu Alpha Jalloh, who was facing one count charge of murder, contrary to offences against persons act of 1861.
The conspicuous absence of one of the jurors, he said, was a heavy blow to the entire court proceeding, noting that the first prosecution witness had testified and they expected the second prosecution was to commence testimony in the respect of the charge preferred against accused person.
He stated that he was very much aware of the powers vested in the high court to penalize any juror found wanting by the court, but that, he would not mind to invoke those provisions as long as it was in the best interest of justice and fair play.
Justice Sesay went on to inform his audience that “the lackadaisical attitudes of some jurors should stop and they should take their sacred responsibility with all the seriousness it deserves”.
He slammed recent rampant killings of innocent citizens by wayward clique gangs in Freetown, adding that the delay in holding the so-called culprits culpable for their dastardly act by law had sometimes dampened the zeal of litigants who would abandon their cases to the mercy of the court.
In such a situation, he said, the public would be left with no option but to blame the presiding Judge or the judiciary for injustice, noting that he had hardly applied the law on jurors but warned that this time round he would have no room for jurors who had no respect for the court. He said any juror found treating the court with levity on such sensitive matter would definitely face the wrath of the law.
He admonished them to lay special emphasis on their duty, stating that they were performing a sacred responsibility and therefore much was expected of them.
The state was represented by Joseph Sesay and Elizabeth Jalloh, whiles the accused was represented by Cecelia Taulker of the legal aid board.
The matter was adjourned to 18 November2016.
