Only 18 of 329 cases completed at April’s Criminal Assizes

Eighteen out of 329 matters listed to be heard in the April session of the Demerara Criminal Assizes were disposed of, according to a statement from the chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). The session, which commenced on April 6, 2021, came to an end on May 31, 2021, and was presided over by Justices Brassington Reynolds and Sandil Kissoon.
Of these 18 matters, the DPP presented 17 at the High Court in Demerara, while the other was nolle prosequi. Of the 17 cases presented, 11 were for murder and the remaining six were for sexual offences.
In these 17 cases, there were five guilty pleas, six convictions, four not guilty verdicts by jury, and two formal verdicts of not guilty.
The DPP prosecuted eight matters before Justice Reynolds. Of these eight matters, two were for murder. In one of these cases, the accused pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. In the other one, the jury found the accused guilty of the lesser offence of manslaughter and he was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment.
Before the same Judge, six cases for sexual offences were presented. In three of these cases, the accused were acquitted, while the other three accused were all found unanimously guilty.
Two of them were sentenced to 20 and 18 years, respectively, while the other one will be sentenced on June 17, 2021. Nine cases for murder were presented before Justice Kissoon.
In one of these cases, Justice Kissoon upheld a no-case submission and directed the jury to return a formal verdict of not guilty. In another matter, the jury returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty. In four other cases, the accused all pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of manslaughter. In two of these cases, one accused had two separate trials.
In the first trial, he was indicted for murder and was sentenced to life imprisonment, and will serve 30 years before being eligible for parole. In the other trial for which he was indicted on three counts, namely murder, attempt to commit murder, and discharging a loaded firearm, he was again sentenced to life imprisonment for murder and 20 years each on the latter counts.
The 20-year sentences will run concurrently.
The other two accused were respectively sentenced to life imprisonment and 15 years’ imprisonment. The one sentenced to life will be eligible for parole after serving 25 years. In another trial in which two accused were jointly indicted, the trial Judge upheld a no-case submission for one of the accused, while his co-accused was found guilty by a jury.
He will be sentenced on June 9, 2021. While in another trial, the accused who was indicted on three counts of murder was found unanimously guilty on all counts and will be sentenced on June 16, 2021. One matter is pending. The DPP nolle prosequi one matter because the complainant in a written statement indicated she did not wish to proceed.