Injury to juror caused attempt murder, robbery trial to stop, because there were only 10 left

Jan 25, 2020 News

A man who was on trial in the Berbice High Court on a charge of attempted murder and on three counts of robbery under arms will have to face a judge and jury again. His trial was stopped even before it began after it was deemed a mistrial.Cort Batson, 24, of New Market Street, Rose Hall Town, Corentyne, Berbice was on trial before Justice Simone Morris Ramlall and a mixed Jury. He is accused of robbing Parsaram Sukraj of cash and two cell phones to a total value of $344,000.

Cort Batson

He is also accused of robbing Anil Kumar Sookraj of a wallet and cash totaling $510,000.
The robberies are said to have been committed on May 9, 2016 on the Rose Hall Town Public Road.
Attorney-at-Law Seeta Bissondyal appeared for the state while attorney-at-law Surihya Sabsook appeared for the accused. After the jury was empanelled, it was reduced to 11. However, before the trial commenced the following day, the court was informed that one of the jurors had met with an accident and would not be able to attend court
The two attorneys were subsequently consulted and agreed that it would be better to have the full component of 12 jurors instead of 10.
Justice Morris-Ramlall had informed the jury that there are provisions in the law to proceed with only ten jurors; however, she wouldn’t continue with the trial because the two attorneys preferred to have the full complement present.
The jury was thus discharged and the trial deemed a mistrial.

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