Trial by jury and trial with the aid of assessors in the superior courts of British African territories: II

Abstract

We now leave West Africa to consider the history of the jury system in other parts of the continent and turn first to Zanzibar. This is the oldest as well as the smallest of Britain's East African possessions, and though the jury system was completely abolished there in 19492 its history prior to that is worthy of some consideration. It will be seen that the introduction of the system was due to the close ties of Zanzibar in its early days with India, and the later history of the system was greatly influenced by the example of its near neighbour Kenya. It is not surprising therefore that a system having little intrinsic justification and, as will be seen, great disadvantages, was finally abolished.