Sex-related cases dominate rural circuit courts

Sex-related matters made up the majority of cases down for trial in rural circuit courts during the just concluded Easter Term.

According to data released by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, of the 946 cases that were listed, 44 percent were for sexual offences with murders second, accounting for 22 percent. 

The parishes with the highest number of sex-related cases were St Catherine, Clarendon, St Ann, St James, Hanover, St Mary, Portland and St Thomas. 

The DPP’s information did not outline the number of sex cases which were resolved.

However overall, only 27 percent of the almost 1,000 cases down for trial, were disposed of.

Some 695 cases will be brought over into the Michelmas Term which starts in September.

The DPP's figures did not include a breakdown of those involving minors but for several months earlier this year, a large number of cases involving children were initiated.

In two incidents, two under-aged pregnant school girls were murdered by adult men allegedly responsible for the pregnancies. 

In February, Children’s Advocate, Diahann Gordon Harrison, noted that Kingston, St Andrew, St Catherine, Manchester and Clarendon were the leading parishes yielding high-number of sex-related cases involving minors.