Murder, sex offences top cases for trial at Essequibo Assizes

Murder and sexual offences account for the bulk of cases listed for trial at the Essequibo Criminal Assizes. A new session opens on Tuesday at the High Court in Suddie, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).

Of the 65 matters listed for trial, sexual offences account for 39 of the cases. There are 11 cases for the capital offence of murder and another six cases for manslaughter. There are eight cases for attempt to commit murder and one for causing grievous bodily harm with intent to commit murder.
Of the sex charges, rape of a child under 16 dominates with 19 cases, followed by sexual activity with a child under 16, with eight cases. There are another 12 rape cases.
At the October 2021 Essequibo Criminal Assizes, five matters —two for sexual offences and one each for attempt to commit murder, murder, and manslaughter — were completed.
In the two separate sexual offences matters, the juries returned unanimous verdicts of not guilty for the accused persons. In the matter of attempt to commit murder with an alternate count of wounding with intent, the virtual complainant told the court he did not wish to proceed with the matter.
As such, the trial Judge directed the jury to return a formal verdict of not guilty. The Judge also directed the jury to return a formal verdict of not guilty for the accused in the murder trial, after she upheld a no-case submission. The accused indicted for manslaughter was acquitted by a jury verdict of not guilty. The Essequibo Assizes remain in progress until today.