Court witnesses could be given more protection and help in a bid to ensure they give evidence.

The introduction of a witness protection programme will be planned during a conference next week when the two-day meeting of experts on May 10 and 11 will focus on a ‘No Witness, No Justice’ programme already implemented in England and Wales.

Fewer trials are collapsing there, and more witnesses giving evidence thanks to the scheme. Introduced in 2003, it focuses on everything from identity protection for those fearing reprisals to help with childcare and transport.

News that similar moves are being considered in Bermuda has been welcomed by the mother of murdered teenager Shaundae Jones. The 20-year-old was gunned down in Dockyard four years ago, three months after giving evidence in relation to the stabbing death Tekle Mallory at Paget Ice Queen in 2001. No-one has been convicted of either murder.

A man was extradited to Bermuda from Jamaica in connection with the killing of Mr. Jones, but had firearms charges against him dropped two years ago after a key witness failed to testify.

Shaundae’s mother Marsha believes her son’s Ice Queen murder testimony may be linked to his death. He had not wanted to be a witness, she said, but she told him it was his duty.

She speculated yesterday that a witness programme could have protected him, and that if one is implemented, it could yet bring his killer to justice.

“The Police have spoken more than once in the paper pertaining to Shaundae’s case that we have got problems with witnesses not willing to speak, as well as because Shaundae was a witness in Tekle’s case,” she said.

“Witnesses need to be protected. When the Ice Queen case finished the Police called me and asked me to put Shaundae in a secure place because of concern about his life.

“It is very important; we need to get a witness protection policy in place. I think they will get more success in bringing these high profile cases to justice,” she said.

The two-day conference at the Elbow Beach hotel will see presentations by experts from the UK’s Victim and Witness Care Delivery Unit.

The cross-Ministry initiative will involve up to 75 people including staff from the Attorney General’s Department, the Departments of Public Prosecution and Justice, and Police officers. Invitations have also been extended to Attorney’s General of other overseas territories.

Among the topics to be discussed at the conference, which will not be open to the public, are:

-Disempowerment Through Intimidation

-The Need for Cultural Change

-Why Cases Fail

-A Victim’s Perspective

Under the UK witness programme, dedicated care units have been set up to help those who fear reprisals, do not understand the court system, or simply have no transport to get to court. The public gallery at court rooms can be cleared for witnesses who need reassurance, or they can appear behind a special screen.

Ms Jones, 53, from Warwick, welcomed news that such measures are being explored in Bermuda, but believes greater steps would be necessary due to the Island’s small community.

“Everyone knows each other. Disguising voices, disguising the person, silhouetting them or even being cross examined by satellite link or something. We’ll have to go even further,” she said.

“There’s a big problem in Bermuda in terms of young people not speaking out because it doesn’t look cool if you ‘squeal’ on someone...but it takes a man or woman to come forward and say ‘this is not right - you protect me so I feel comfortable and I will give evidence’. The people who knew what happened to Shaundae still know what happened. These people have to have a conscience and think ‘if you look after me and I’m sure I’m OK, I will speak up’.”

Attorney General Philip Perinchief said: “While the ultimate aim of the conference is to establish a No Witness, No Justice Programme and a Victim and Witness Care Unit in Bermuda, the conference is just the first step in helping Bermuda to become better equipped to identify and to understand the needs of victims and witnesses and to be more responsive to their individual requirements.”

A similar initiative in February saw social workers, Police, prosecutors and magistrates trained in preparing and protecting child witnesses and victims in abuse cases.