18 matters completed at Essequibo, Berbice criminal assizes

The October 2022 Criminal Assizes of the Essequibo High Court has seen the completion of 12 matters, eleven of which were heard by Justice Sandil Kissoon. The other matter was presided over by Justice Jo-Ann Barlow, who sat from January, closed the October Assizes, and then opened the February Criminal Assizes.
The accused in the one murder case before Justice Barlow was found unanimously guilty by jury verdict on the lesser offence of manslaughter, and was sentenced to 24 years’ imprisonment.
Of the 11 cases heard by Justice Kissoon, two were for sexual offences, eight for the capital offence of murder, and one for attempting to commit murder and simple larceny.
ln one of the two sexual offences cases, the complainant testified that she did not wish to proceed with the matter, and the trial Judge directed the jury to return a formal verdict of not guilty.
The accused in the other matter, who was a juvenile, pleaded guilty to the offence of rape of a child under 16 years and was sentenced in accordance with the Juvenile Justice Act to three years and six months at the New Opportunity Corps (NOC), until he attains the age of 18 years. The court ordered that he must complete serving two years and six months before he is released from custody.
ln six of the eight murder cases, the accused all pleaded guilty. Two of the accused pleaded guilty as charged; one was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, and the other was sentenced to 22 years in prison after deductions were made for time spent on remand. The other four pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of manslaughter.
One of them was also sentenced to life imprisonment, with the possibility of parole after he would have served 25 years. The three others were sentenced respectively to 25 years’ imprisonment; six years, five months, and 20 days’ imprisonment; and 20 years’ imprisonment.
ln the two other separate murder cases, both accused were found unanimously guilty by jury verdict. One was sentenced to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole after 25 years, while the other was sentenced to 25 years’ imprisonment.
ln the one matter for the offence of attempt to commit murder and simple larceny, the accused was found unanimously guilty by jury verdict, and was sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment.
The February Criminal Assizes is in progress, with State Counsel Taneisha Saygon having presented two matters for the offence of murder before Justice Kissoon.
ln one case, the accused pleaded guilty as charged and has been sentenced to life imprisonment. He must serve 30 years before becoming eligible for parole. The other accused, who pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of manslaughter, will be sentenced on April 18.
Meanwhile, seven matters were nolle prosequi by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) because the complainants submitted written statements that they did not wish to proceed with their matters. The Essequibo February Assizes remains in progress until May 15.
The Berbice October 2022 Criminal Assizes had continued with State Counsel Nafeeza Baig completing six matters before Justice Navindra Singh, who first sat from the October Assizes, closed it, and then opened the February 2023 Assizes.
Of these six matters, two were for the offence of murder, three for sexual offences, and one for attempt to commit murder, felonious wounding, and robbery under-arms.
ln one of the murder trials, in which two accused were indicted together, both accused pleaded guilty as charged and were each sentenced to 25 years’ imprisonment. ln the other case, the accused pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of manslaughter, and was sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment with the eligibility for parole after serving 15 years.
ln one of the three sexual offences matters, the accused who was indicted on three counts of sexual activity with a child family member was found unanimously guilty on all three counts by jury verdicts, and was sentenced to life in prison on each count. His sentences will run concurrently.
One other accused who was indicted on five counts of rape of a child under 16 years was unanimously acquitted by jury verdicts on all counts. And in the one other matter, the trial Judge upheld a no-case submission and directed the jury to return a formal verdict of not guilty. The State has served notice of intention to appeal this acquittal.
ln the matter of the offence of attempt to commit murder, felonious wounding, and robbery under arms, the three complainants testified that they did not wish to proceed with the matter, and the trial Judge directed the jury to return a formal verdict of not guilty.
One matter was nolle prosequi by the DPP because the complainant could not be located. The Berbice February Criminal Assizes will continue until June 19.