A King’s Counsel lawyer gave an impassioned call before a special sitting of the courts for the island to resist what he branded an open assault on its rule of law.

Delroy Duncan, KC, spoke yesterday at a ceremony before the judiciary for the formal opening of the 2024 legal year, presided over by Acting Chief Justice Larry Mussenden.

He decried an attack on the steps of Sessions House during the trial of Raheem Wray, who was ultimately cleared by a jury of murdering Osagi Bascome.

Mr Duncan called for those responsible to be prosecuted “to the hilt”.

He said the clash on January 17 involved three lawyers being “verbally threatened and punched on the steps of this building, in broad daylight, by members of the public”.

The incident was also condemned this week by Michael Weeks, the Minister of National Security, as undermining the island’s legal system.

Mr Duncan told the court: “This is the moment when a new Bermuda may have emerged.”

He added: “I hear a wall falling, and it is a sacred wall that has existed since the advent of jury trials on this island.

“Do we have the foresight, the confidence and the moral fortitude to say that this is a line we cannot allow our country to cross?”

Two people have been arrested and released on police bail as part of the investigation into the matter.

Mr Duncan asked if lawyers would have to accept that “as part of their representation of a client, they can expect to be subjected to threats of violence and physical attacks” on the steps of a building that stood as “a shrine of this country’s democracy”.

“Fear and intimidation must not reign. For the welfare of this community, I ask those who witnessed the event on the steps of this building, and I understand there were many people including some significant pillars of this community, to do the right thing and come forward and say what they witnessed and not let this slip by.”

He added: “This insidious and corrosive behaviour undermines the freedoms that we all hold dear.

Mr Duncan told the court it could not become “a sad turning point” with nothing done.

“Let this not be another of those events, lest we fail to recover.”

Mr Justice Mussenden said that the incidents had “immediately” resulted in Darrin Simons, the Commissioner of Police, being contacted, with officers responding swiftly.

Rena Lalgie, the Governor, was also informed.

Mr Justice Mussenden highlighted renovations coming to better the court facilities.

Mr Duncan responded: “I was addressing the culture as well, which is concerning.

“We can put security measures in place — but we all know that if there is a will, there is a way.”