Justice Carlisle Greaves has warned jurors that any attempt by anyone to contact or influence them about ongoing cases must be reported immediately, stressing that such interference could have serious implications.
Addressing the jurors in the No. 3 Supreme Court, Justice Greaves emphatically stated: “Nobody must approach any juror, or come close to any juror and make any comment whatsoever. Whoever has ears to hear let them hear!”
He also cautioned jurors against allowing any person to approach them about cases, whether “by phone, send it by message or by messenger”. He stressed that any such attempt to make contact must be reported immediately.
“If any approach is made to you in any way it is your duty to report it as fast as possible. If you fail to do that there could be implications in the future,” the judge warned.
Justice Greaves explained that in every legal matter, be it civil, criminal, or otherwise, there are parties with vested interests.
He noted that some are bold enough to try and influence a juror one way or another.
“There are people whose only interest is to see that accused are convicted while there are other people whose interest is to see that they are not convicted. Whether it is wrong or right, their interest is getting the result they want.”
He underscored the importance of the jury system, stating that jurors are special because they are not meant to think based on personal interest but must “judge based on the evidence”.
The judge also advised jurors against doing any research or following traditional and social media stories on the case to prevent external factors from influencing their judgement.
He pointed out that people in other countries have faced penalties for ignoring this directive, and warned that in the modern world, all actions leave a trace.
“In today’s world, whatever we do, we leave a trace and that’s how we catch you. So you WhatsApp and you feel you delete it, but it is hiding somewhere in that phone and they are people who are expert enough, and we have them in Barbados now working with the police, who can find that information.”
He continued: “You make a photocopy and you think it is done but somewhere in the recesses of that photocopier it is keeping a memory. You sometimes think you can take a quick glance because nobody is looking but there are cameras in places you cannot even imagine.”
