108 to stand trial at February sitting of Berbice Assizes

One hundred eight (108) cases are set for trial at the February sitting of the Berbice Assizes. The session officially opened on Wednesday shortly after Justice Sandil Kissoon closed the October 2021 session.

Most of the cases are for murder, with 51 persons waiting to answer the capital offence, two for murder/piracy and one for attempted murder. There are four incarcerated persons awaiting trial for rape-related offences.
Of the 108 matters set for this session, 58 of the accused are in prison.
The age range for those incarcerated and awaiting trial is from 19 to 49 years old.
Ravendranauth Mohanlall, 43, has been awaiting trial for ten years.
He is accused of setting fire to two men in a boat, resulting in their death.
On September 6, 2011, Mohanlall also called “Fred” is alleged to have murdered Beeram Motee Lall, 45, and 15-year-old Reynard Fernandes called “Renee”. The incident occurred at the Albion foreshore.
Meanwhile, three persons have indicated that they want to plead guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter.
Mohanlall Sewsankar, 23, is accused of the October 2016 killing and burning of the body of 21-year-old Mahendra Ghanie called “Azad” at Number 55 Village, Corentyne.
Sewsankar is charged jointly with two others but he has indicated that he wants to plead guilty to the offence.
Also indicating his willingness to enter a guilty plea since 2018 is Abdul McLennon.
Kareem Charles, who is accused of the March 1, 2019 killing of Arshad Ali at Rosignol, has also indicated his willingness to plead guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter.
Meanwhile, Gavin Gill, who had confessed to the brutal murder of his wife, Omwattie Gill, called “Anjalie”, has moved to the Court of Appeal to challenge his life sentence.
He remains a prisoner at the New Amsterdam Prison.
No females at the New Amsterdam Prison are awaiting trial in the High Court.
The session will officially commence on Monday with the trial of Sheldon Prince, who is accused of killing his wife, Lonnette Nicholson-Prince, at the National Psychiatric Hospital where she worked as a cosmetologist. (G4)