ABSTRACT
In respect of all non-capital offences, the jury may return a majority verdict. Except for the Bahamas,23 statute stipulates a time period for deliberations before a majority verdict is accepted. Similar statutory provisions in Antigua, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, St Kitts and Nevis and St Vincent set the period of time that must elapse as two hours.24 In Jamaica and Barbados it is one hour.25 In Trinidad and Tobago, the time stipulated is three hours.26 In St Lucia, statute27 specifies that after one hour, a minority of one may disagree, after two hours, a minority of two and so on, as long as six jurors agree one way or the other.
