Tashieka Mair, Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

Justice Jennifer Straw is calling for more measures to curb the high levels of murders and sexual offences in the country.

"Murders and sexual offences seem to be the trend in St. James, and they are a great obstacle to national development and for the development of St. James as well," she said during her address at the opening of the Easter Session of the St. James Circuit Court on Wednesday.

"Sexual offences against children have become endemic in our country, and our children are rapidly losing the value of being a child. We are losing our children and we have to deal with it."

Among the list of 28 cases to be presided over by Justice Norma McIntosh in the three-week long sitting, 15 are sexually related matters, 11 murders, and two for wounding with intent.

Justice Shaw stated that matters of this nature should be dealt with in a timely manner, and that the police should exercise professionalism when dealing with these cases.

"Cases are not done until a verdict is passed so you must follow these cases until the end," she urged.

She also echoed the concern of several other judges, that the parish faces a shortage of persons to serve as jurors.

Attorney-at-law Albert Morgan, who spoke on behalf of the Cornwall Bar Association, promised to offer the full cooperation of lawyers in order to assist in the quick disposal of the cases, despite the disadvantages the Bar faces in the parish.