Abu Bakr fails to attend court as jury selection begins in sedition trial

One of the lawyers for Jamaat al Muslimeen leader Yasin Abu Bakr presented a medical certificate to Justice Mark Mohammed Wednesday to explain why his client failed to attend the start of jury selection for the Muslimeen leader's trial.

Mohammed accepted the medical certificate as he began the process of selecting a nine-member jury to serve in the case.

Bakr is facing four charges including sedition, promoting a terrorist act and inciting others to breach the peace. All the charges stem from a sermon Bakr gave during Eid celebrations in 2005 at the Jamaat's mosque just oustide Port of Spain.

The jury will be selected over a six week period from a poll of about 700 potential jurors.

In his address to the potential jurors Mohammed said that anyone serving on the panel must be honest, fair, patient and impartial.

“The judgment decided by jurors should be solely based on the evidence presented in court and not based on emotions and previous impressions,” the judge said.

He presented a list showing the conditions under which someone could seek exemption from serving as a juror in the case:

• Knowing the defendant, his four wives or family personally or in any way connected to the Jamaat al Muslimeen, including people who have worshipped at the Jamaat’s Mucurapo Road Mosque
• Knowing any of the witnesses giving evidence at the trial
• Knowing state and/or defence attorneys in matter
• Medical grounds
• Being illiterate
• Having a criminal record with convictions
• Over 65 years old
• MPs, magistrates, court officers, ministers of religion, mayors, members of the medical board, attorneys, pharmacists, members of the protective services, school teachers and pilots
• Spouses of the above

State witnesses in the case against Bakr include:

• former Inter-Religious Organisation president and independent Senator Brother Noble Khan
• Several police officers
• CNC 3 deputy Head of News Samson Nanton and cameraman Mano Ragbir 

One of Bakr's lawyer indicated he would be calling one witness—Abdul Salam, an Islamic scholar and missionary last attached to the Monroe Road Masjid in Cunupia.

Bakr’s legal team is being led by British Queen’s Counsel Martin Hicks. Senior Counsel Dana Seetahal is leading the case for the prosecution. The matter has been adjourned to next Monday when Bakr is expected to attend.