Sentencing guidelines for offences involving bladed weapons and fatal traffic incidents are expected to be released later this year, the Chief Justice has said.

In an update on the work of the Sentencing Guidelines Committee, Larry Mussenden noted that members will work on developing directions for the Supreme Court and Magistrates’ Court.

He said that the group held meetings during the week of January 5, when a delegation from the Foreign Office joined officials on the island for a working week.

Mr Justice Mussenden added: “Two working sessions were held with the Sentencing Guidelines Committee, during which principles, concepts and approaches to guideline development were discussed.

“The committee resolved to focus its initial work on sentencing guidelines in both the Supreme Court and the Magistrates’ Court for offences involving possession of bladed weapons and traffic offences which involve grievous bodily harm and death, with the intention of issuing guidelines for these offences later this year.”

He added: “As the sentencing guidelines are developed over the upcoming months and years, they will be published and available online to the participants in the Criminal Justice System, especially defendants, so that everyone can see and understand the approach to sentencing for specific offences.

“The committee’s work marks an important step towards consistency, fairness and confidence in Bermuda’s criminal justice system.”

Meetings with the Foreign Office representatives were designed to provide an understanding of how Bermuda’s court system operates.

Mr Justice Mussenden said that the committee discussed the standards, plans and approaches to designing sentencing guidelines.

He said that Dame Maura McGowan, a Justice of the Royal Courts of Justice, highlighted the importance of “transparency and consistency” in regards to sentencing.

She added that Bermuda’s work to standardise sentencing reflected “international best practice”.

The delegation observed the Supreme Court arraignment session this month, which was overseen by Puisne Judge Juan Wolffe, as well as plea court, Drug Treatment Court and Mental Health Court, all presided over by senior magistrate Maxanne Anderson.

They met the Governor, Andrew Murdoch, as well as Mr Justice Mussenden and Kim Wilkerson, the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice.

Meetings were also held with Darrin Simons, the Commissioner of Police, and Cindy Clarke, the Director of Public Prosecutions, as well as members of the Bermuda Bar, corrections and court services.

The Sentencing Guidelines Committee was created last October to draw up directions on how courts should sentence offenders.

It is headed by Mr Justice Wolffe and involves magistrates, lawyers, police and court services representatives, as well as Mark Wade, the president of the Bermuda Football Association.