49 prisoners face murder, rape trials as Berbice Assize open 

Forty-nine prisoners at the New Amsterdam Prison face murder trials, attempted murder trials, and sexual penetration trials as the October session of the Berbice Criminal Assizes opened on Tuesday with the traditional ceremonial parade and salute in New Amsterdam.

The opening ceremony featured a march-past along Esplanade Road, with Justice Gino Persaud taking the salute as Police ranks paraded in observance of the start of the new session.
Of the 49 at the prison awaiting trial, 44 are for murder, one for attempted murder and four for rape.
Meanwhile, during the just-concluded June session of the Assizes, 84 cases were listed to be heard, but not all of these were heard.
The Henry Boys murder trial stood out, which resulted in both accused being found guilty and given two life sentences each.
Also, during that session, State Counsel Marisa Edwards presented five cases for the offence of murder before Justice Gino Persaud.
In three of them, the accused pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of manslaughter; they are still to be sentenced.
In another matter, the accused was acquitted by a jury verdict. One trial was aborted because a juror fell ill and was unable to continue to sit in the trial.
Meanwhile, during the October session, several high-profile matters are listed.
The session is scheduled to run until the end of January, with the first case expected to begin next month.
Justice Peter Hugh, who is expected to preside over the session, is currently on leave.
The October Assizes will run until the end of January 2027, but the first case is expected to be called next month, as the presiding judge is currently on leave.