A judge can now consider granting bail to a murder accused.
This according to a ruling of the Appeal Court today.
In a written judgment Chief Justice Ivor Archie and Justices of Appeal Mira Dean-Armorer and Malcolm Holdip ruled that Section 5(1) of the Bail Act of 1994, which precludes the grant of bail for persons accused of murder, was inconsistent with the Constitution and should be struck down.
The Appeal Court ruled that that segment of the legislation was not reasonably justifiable in a society that is concerned about the rights of citizens.
It ruled that it interfered with a core judicial function.
