More Judges needed to expedite cases – DPP at opening of January Assizes

At the opening of the January Criminal Assizes in Demerara, on Tuesday at the High Court in Georgetown, Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack, S.C, noted that the number of criminal cases has increased significantly over the years, and there is need for more judges.
She said that, as of now, it will be humanly impossible to hear all of the cases in the short period in which the assizes would be held.
“We need more judges in the judiciary, so there can be more judges sitting in the criminal sittings, so that this number of increased cases can be disposed of timelier,” Ali-Hack said.
She said that as the January 2023 assizes opens, there are 308 cases listed to be heard by three judges: 134 sexual offences cases are listed to be heard by one judge, while the remaining 174 cases are listed to be heard by two judges.
“These 174 cases include 61 cases for the offence of murder. There are 24 cases for the offence of manslaughter and 79 for the offence of attempted murder. All the persons who are indicted for murder are in custody, and their cases are given priority because they are in custody”.

She said a short list of the oldest cases is currently being prepared by the State Counsel, so that the cases are presented based on the date the accused person was remanded to prison.
It was announced that the cases for Demerara increased by 33%. It was increased from 230 in January 2018 to 307 for this January 2023 Assizes.
“The increase commenced in 2019 when the October list had 322 cases listed, compared to the January October list for the said year, which had 260. This was further increased in 2020 when the January list increased to 346 and reached 369 by October 2020”, she said. As such, she called for help so that the number of increased cases can be disposed of in a timely manner.
Finally, she advocated for the amendment of Section 27 of the High Court Act, which provides for the sittings of the Court in the counties of Demerara, Berbice, and Essequibo.

“There are four sittings for Demerara, and time is lost with the winding down of sittings by judges as the sitting comes to an end; whereas, if there was one sitting for the year, then there will be no need for winding down. This would allow more cases to be completed”, she posited.
There were also calls for a Bench Book to be used by judges at the trials in sittings.
“A Bench Book would provide standard directions which judges would use in the summing up, and would reduce this issue. When defenses are not adequately put in by the judges at the trial, this can be a ground for the Court of Appeal to allow an appeal and order a retrial,” she said.
“Retrials are costly to the State, and puts a strain on an already overburdened system. The case has to be added to the already long list.”
In conclusion, the DPP said she looks forward to having teamwork to ensure a just disposal of the cases.
After the first case of the coronavirus was detected in March 2020, the Supreme Court of Judicature suspended jury trials and in-person hearings. Jury trials resumed in October 2021 with access to remote hearings. (G9)