96 cases set for October session of Berbice Assizes

Ninety-six cases have been listed for the October session of the Berbice Assizes, which officially began on Tuesday in New Amsterdam, Berbice.
Sixty persons are set to stand trial for murder during the session and five have indicated their willingness to plead to the lesser count of manslaughter.
The session also has eight cases listed for manslaughter. The session will be presided over by Justice Brassington Reynolds and is also expected to see six persons appearing for robbery under arms. Attorney-at-Law Abigail Gibbs will be representing the State.
Meanwhile, there is a total of 71 people awaiting trial at the New Amsterdam Prisons – 64 for murder, four for attempted murder, and three for sexual penetration.

When the session commenced, Gocoul Madanpul, also called “Plum”, pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter.
He was indicted along with Rooplall Abriahim, called “Vijay”, for the January 2016 murder of Bush Lot, West Coast Berbice businessman Arthur Doodnauth Rajkumar and his common-law wife, Diane Chamanlall.
The couple’s bodies were found in their home in pools of blood with several chop wounds. Police subsequently arrested the two.
It had been reported that the men chopped the couple multiple times after their demands for money did not get a positive response after they broke into the house.
They had reportedly packed items to cart away, but Police arrived at the scene, forcing them to leave in a hurry by scaling the fence. Madanpul had reportedly confessed to the crime.
Justice Brassington Reynolds had ordered a probation report before sentencing. That report is expected to be presented to the court on November 3, 2020.
Meanwhile, a jury has been empanelled, for Abriahim has decided to let them decide his fate. The jury will soon start hearing evidence from the prosecution’s witnesses. (G4)