Murder, rape, embezzlement cases among 13 matters heard in Berbice

…June Assizes set to begin next week

The February 2026 Berbice Criminal Assizes is nearing its conclusion after a series of murder, sexual offence, attempted murder, abduction and embezzlement matters were heard before Justices Simone Morris and Deborah Kumar-Chetty at the Berbice High Court.
Among the most significant outcomes of the session was the conviction of Anil Sancharra, called “Dan Pole” and “Rasta”, and Vinod Gopaul, called “Magga”, for the September 2020 murders of West Coast Berbice cousins Isaiah and Joel Henry. The pair were unanimously found guilty on two counts of murder following a trial before Justice Simone Ramlall. Sentencing has been deferred until June 26 pending psychiatric evaluations and probation reports.
Justice Ramlall heard a total of five matters during the assizes, comprising two murder cases, two sexual offence matters and one abduction and assault causing actual bodily harm case.
In the other murder matter, an accused pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 18 years’ imprisonment after deductions were made for the guilty plea.
One sexual offence matter resulted in a unanimous guilty verdict for the offence of sexual activity with a child family member. The accused was sentenced to 18 years’ imprisonment and will become eligible for parole after serving 15 years.
Meanwhile, three accused jointly charged with abduction and assault causing actual bodily harm were acquitted after a jury returned unanimous not guilty verdicts.
The final matter before Justice Ramlall is the retrial of Krishna Tulapersaud, also known as Krishna Tulerpersaud, who is indicted on two counts of sexual activity with a child family member.
The charges allege that the offences were committed during February 2013 and February 2014.
Tulapersaud had previously been found guilty and sentenced to 14 years’ imprisonment. However, he successfully appealed the conviction, and the Court of Appeal ordered a retrial before a new jury.
State Counsel Marisa Edwards is presenting the State’s case while Attorney-at-Law Arudranauth Gossai appears for the accused. The prosecution is expected to call six witnesses.
The matter is the final case listed for hearing during the February session of the Berbice Assizes.
Meanwhile, Justice Deborah Kumar-Chetty heard eight matters comprising two murder cases, two attempted murder matters, three sexual offence cases and one embezzlement and larceny matter.
Among those was the case of Satish Ramnarish, who pleaded guilty to murder committed in the course or furtherance of a robbery and was sentenced to life imprisonment. He will become eligible for parole after serving 20 years.
In the other murder matter, Andrew Seegobin was convicted and sentenced to 18 years’ imprisonment.
One attempted murder accused, Mulshankar Sukharam, pleaded guilty to the alternative count of felonious wounding and was sentenced to 15 years and six months’ imprisonment. Another accused charged with attempted murder was acquitted.
The sexual offence matters also produced mixed outcomes. Anthony Jeffrey pleaded guilty to rape and assault causing actual bodily harm and was sentenced accordingly, while Dexter Philadelphia was acquitted by a jury. In another matter, a formal verdict of not guilty was directed after the complainant indicated that she did not wish to give evidence.
Justice Kumar-Chetty also presided over the embezzlement and larceny trial of Hemraj Singh Pahalad, who was found guilty by a jury. He was subsequently sentenced to two years and seven months’ imprisonment for embezzlement and five years’ imprisonment for larceny, with the sentences ordered to run concurrently.
Combined, the two judges heard 13 matters during the February 2026 Berbice Criminal Assizes, with convictions, guilty pleas and acquittals recorded across a wide range of serious offences.
The June session of the Assizes is expected to open on Tuesday next week.