JUSTICE COURTNEY Daye will officially open the Easter session of the Home Circuit Court this morning.
There are more than 140 cases listed for trial during the term which ends on July 29.
The previous term, which began on January 7 and ended on March 22, had 161 cases listed for trial. During that term, 45 cases were disposed of and 116 cases traversed to this session. Five of the traversed cases are capital murder cases which are set for sentencing this term.
Sentencing in respect of capital murder cases were put on hold during the term as the judges are still waiting on the amendment to the Offences Against the Person Act which will give them the power to determine the appropriate sentences to be passed in such cases.
MANDATORY DEATH SENTENCE
The United Kingdom Privy Council had ruled last year that the mandatory death sentence for capital murder cases was unconstitutional. The offence still attracts the death penalty but the judges must determine whether such a sentence should be passed on a murder convict after hearing a mitigation plea.
