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The following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary:

In response to press enquiry that latecomers were asked not to enter the Court during the reading of charges of an attempted rape case before the Hon Mr Justice Seagroatt, Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court today, a spokesman for the Judiciary said as follows:

"The Court does have the power to regulate its own procedure. In this case, the protection of the victim was of paramount importance. The Judge explained to the representatives of the press, before the charges were read out, that there must be no identification of the victim in any report made about the case.

In order to ensure that no member of the press came into Court during the reading of the charges and left before becoming aware of the Judge's direction, the Judge decided in the interests of the victim, to stop latecomers from entering the courtroom during the few minutes it took to read the charges and to take the pleas.

As soon as the charges had been read out, and the defendant had pleaded quilty to attempted rape, the Judge repeated his earlier direction that the victim must not be identified to all latecomers who then came into Court. At the conclusion of the proceedings after the accused had been sentenced, the Judge explained to all present why he had taken the course that he had"

End/Wednesday, August 16, 2000

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