The January 2017 Criminal Assizes for Demerara opened on Tuesday, where 140 cases are slated to be heard. The session opened with much pomp and ceremony, led by two Policemen on decorated horses, in keeping with tradition. Following closely behind were male and female Police ranks who marched with pride along Croal Street, into the South Road entrance to the High Court where they performed a march pass.
Keeping with long-standing tradition – Policemen ride horses at Tuesday’s processionTuesday’s procession
Justice Navindra Singh took the salute just after 09:00h. He along with Justice Jo-Ann Barlow, will preside over the current criminal session in Demerara. There are 23 separate murder cases, while 11 manslaughter cases are listed for the current session. A number of attempted murder, rape and carnal knowledge cases are also due to be heard in the Demerara assizes.
High profile cases include the Lusignan massacre retrial being heard before Justice Singh and the 2009 setting fire to the Health Ministry building, where six men stand accused. Mark Royden Williams, an accused in the January 2008 Lusignan matter is currently on trial for the February 2008 Bartica massacre.
The ceremony included Director of Public Prosecutions, Shalimar Ali-Hack, Chief Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards and a number of other Supreme Court judges, including Justice Roxane George, who was recently appointed a Senior Counsel by President David Granger. The October 2016 Assizes comprised 141 cases.
