Senate Bill No. 8-31 also provides for qualifications of jury services or mechanism for requirements to the selection of jurors.
Under the bill, a juror who is related by blood or marriage within the second degree to the defendant or alleged victim of the offense ; person of whose complaint the prosecution commenced; prospective witness or any attorney representing the party in the action; the prospective juror has a state of mind that will preclude him from being fair and impartial.The bill also puts in place a system for criminal defendant entitled to a jury trial.Defendants who are punishable by a sentence of imprisonment of 12 years or more will have a right to trial by jury.The bill also proposed that the juries will be comprised of six members and a unanimous verdict will be required to be found guilty.The bill will also set the examination of jurors and that the government the government will also be able to have six peremptory challenges.The bill added that it will also require alternate jurors to replace any jurors who are unable to perform or who are disqualified from performing duties.The bill is drafted in compliance of the recent constitutional provision for trial by jury.
