18 matters completed in Criminal Assizes in Berbice, Essequibo

A total of 18 matters were completed at the October Berbice and Essequibo Criminal Assizes. The assizes in Berbice commenced on October 19, 2021, during which three matters for the offence of murder were completed before Justice Sandil Kissoon.
In one of the murder matters, there were two accused persons. The number one accused was found unanimously guilty by the jury and was sentenced to death. His co-accused pleaded guilty to the murder charge and was sentenced to life in prison with parole after serving 35 years.
In the other two matters, the accused persons entered guilty pleas to the lesser offence of manslaughter and were each sentenced to life imprisonment. One becomes eligible for parole after he would have served 35 years and the other after he would have served 30 years.
The Berbice October 2021 Criminal Assizes remains in progress until February 2022.
Meanwhile, the Essequibo October Criminal Assizes commenced on October 26 during which 15 matters were completed before Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, who first sat in June, closed the June Criminal Session and opened the October Assizes.
Of these 15 matters, seven were for sexual offences, five for the offence of murder, and three for attempt to commit murder with alternative counts of discharging a loaded firearm with intent, felonious wounding, and robbery under arms.
In three of the sexual offence cases, the accused were found guilty by jury verdicts. Two were respectively sentenced to 18 years’ and 12 years’ imprisonment; the other offender is awaiting sentence.
Another three accused were acquitted by jury verdicts. The complainant in the other matter testified that she did not wish to proceed and the Judge directed the jury to return a formal verdict of not guilty.
In the five murder cases, three accused entered guilty pleas to the lesser offence of manslaughter and were respectively sentenced to eight years, seven years, and 15 years in prison. In another case, the trial Judge upheld a no-case submission and directed the jury to return a formal verdict of not guilty.
While in another case, the accused was found unanimously guilty by his jury. He is awaiting sentence. In one of the three cases for the offence of attempt to commit murder, the accused was found not guilty.
The other two accused pleaded guilty as charged. One was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment while the other is awaiting sentence. Three matters for sexual offences were nolle prosequi by the DPP because the complainants did not wish to proceed with their matters.