83 cases enlisted to be heard at Berbice October Assizes

The October session of the Berbice Criminal Assizes opened on Tuesday with the ceremonial parade in front of the Berbice High Court building on Esplanade Road, New Amsterdam, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

The session will be presided by Justice Brassington Reynolds, who inspected the Guard of Honour comprising one officer, one inspector and 23 ranks.
However, during the Assizes, a total of 83 cases are listed to be heard, including 20 for murder and seven for manslaughter.
Nevertheless, at the New Amsterdam Prison, 69 persons are awaiting trial for various offences ranging from murder to sexual offence-related matters, with some 14 already indicating their interest to plead to the lesser count of manslaughter.

During the June Criminal Assizes, State Counsel Mandel Moore completed five matters before Justice Jo-Ann Barlow.
Of the five cases heard by Justice Barlow, two were for the offence of murder and three for sexual molestation.
In one of the two murder cases, two accused were indicted together and both were acquitted by the jury. In the other case, the accused pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of manslaughter and was sentenced to 13 years’ imprisonment.
With respect to the three sexual offences matters, one accused pleaded guilty and was given a 20-year sentence. Another accused was acquitted by a jury after they returned a not guilty verdict.
The Virtual Complainant (VC) in the third case testified in court that she did not wish to proceed with the matter and as such, the Judge directed the jury to return a formal verdict of not guilty.
Meanwhile, three matters were completed before Justice Sewnarine-Beharry, one for a sexual offence and two for murder.
In the one sexual offence matter, the jury returned a majority verdict of eleven not guilty to one guilty in favour of the accused.
In one of the two murder cases, the accused, who was indicted on two counts, was found guilty by the jury for the lesser offence of manslaughter and sentenced to 6 years’ imprisonment. He pleaded guilty to the second count of wounding with intent and was given a 2-year sentence.
The other accused was acquitted after the trial Judge upheld a no case submission.
Four matters were nolle prosequi during the June session— three sexual offences and one for the offence of attempt to commit murder— because the complainants submitted written statements in which they indicated they wished not to proceed with the matters.