Revised Laws of Saint Lucia (2021)

923.   Verdicts

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    (1)   With respect to the deliberation and verdict of the jury, the following provisions shall have effect—

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      (a)     in the case of the trial of any capital offence the verdict shall be unanimous;

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      (b)     where during the trial of any capital offence any member of the jury dies or is discharged by the Court in accordance with the provisions of this Code, the jury shall, provided,, their number is not less than 10, be treated as properly constituted, for all purposes of the trial and their verdict shall be deemed to be the unanimous verdict of the jury;

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      (c)     in the case of the trial of any offence other than a capital offence—

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        (i)     during the first hour after the conclusion of the judge's summing up the verdict shall be unanimous,

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        (ii)     after the first hour or during the second hour after the judge's summing up, the verdict may be a majority verdict with a minority of one,

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        (iii)     after the second hour or during the third hour the verdict may be a majority verdict with a minority of 2,

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        (iv)     where, owing to the discharge of any member of the jury, the number of the jurors is reduced to not less than 6 the provisions of this subparagraph shall, with the necessary modification apply, provided that the verdict is returned by at least 6 jurors.

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    (2)   If the jury do not agree and are not likely to agree after the expiration of the third hour from the conclusion of the summing-up, they may be discharged by the Court.

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    (3)   In any case the maximum length of time in which a jury shall consider the verdict is 6 hours.