36 cases to be heard during June session of Berbice Assizes
Moments after the February session of the 2016 Berbice Assizes was closed on Tuesday, the June session was
Assistant Superintendent of Police, Keith Williams leading the parade along Esplanade Road for the opening of the session
opened.
The session will be presided over by Justice Jo-Ann Barlow, who will make her first sitting on July 6. However, in the interim, Justice Brassington Reynolds will preside.
The session was opened with the traditional parade and march past outside the High Court on Esplanade Road, New Amsterdam, Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).
The parade was led by Assistant Superintendent of Police, Keith Williams, and included 30 trainees from the Felix Austin Police Training College in Berbice.
Senior Superintendent of Prisons, Paul James said that there were no females awaiting trial in the High Court.
However, of the 36 men, 30 are awaiting trial for the capital offence of murder, four for sexual penetration, one for sexual assault and one for unlawful and malicious wounding.
Senior Superintendent James noted that two persons indicted for murder – Omar Bacchus, 23, and Navin Sugrim, 25, have indicated their willingness to plead guilty.
Attorney-at Law Stacy Goodings will represent the State at the Assizes.
Meanwhile, Justice Reynolds reminded the jurors that jury service was a civic responsibility.
He explained that Justice Jo-Ann Barlow will not be at the Berbice Assizes until July 6 and, as such, jurors will not be required at such time.
