back meant that he was shot from the back when the wound was an exit wound,
and the high probability that the deceased turned around to look when the
firing started behind him."
Complaint
3.1 The author claims that his trial was unfair and that a number of
irregularities occurred in its course. He alleges gross misconduct on the
part of the trial judge, who purportedly misdirected the jury by failing to
explain to it the discrepancy between the testimony of Ms. P.M. and the
evidence of the pathologist. He also submits that the trial judge sent
further directions to the jurors while they were deliberating, which may have
caused additional pressure on them and influenced their verdict.
3.2 The author finally contends that the trial judge erred in permitting
author's counsel to make his final address to the jury before Crown counsel
made hers. In this connection, it is submitted that Crown counsel should have
been required by the trial judge to make her final address to the jury first,
so as to avoid emphasizing the Crown's case to the jury immediately prior to
the summing-up.
State party's observations
4.
By submission of 21 July ig89, the State party argues that the
communication is inadmissible on the ground of failure to exhaust all
available domestic remedies, as required by article 5, paragraph 2 <b), of the
Optional Protocol, It submits that the author's appeal to the Judicial
Committee of the Privy Council was in respect of his criminal case, and that
he still has constitutional remedies that he may pursue. The State party
further submits that the communication does not disclose a violation of any of
the rights set forth in the Covenant.
Issues and proceedings before the Committee
5.1 Before considering any claims contained in a communication, the Human
Sights Committee must, in accordance with rule 87 of its rules of procedure,
decide whether or not it is admissible under the Optional Protocol to the
Covenant.
5.2 The Committee has taken notice of the State party's contention that the
author still has constitutional remedies he may pursue. The Committee
observes, however, that the author's claims relate primarily to the conduct of
the trial, the judge's instructions to the jury, and evaluation of evidence by
the court. It recalls that it is generally for the appellate courts of States
parties to the Covenant and not for the Committee to evaluate the facts and
evidence in a particular case. Similarly, it is for the appellate courts and
not for the Committee to review specific instructions to the jury by the
judge, unless it can be ascertained that the instructions to the jury were
clearly arbitrary or amounted to a denial of justice, or that the judge
manifestly violated his obligation of impartiality. The author's allegations
do not show that the judge's instructions or conduct of the trial suffered
from such defects. In this respect, therefore, the author's claims do not
come within the competence of the Committee. Accordingly, the communication,
is inadmissible under article 3 of the Optional Protocol.
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