State prosecuted 25 cases at Appeal Court, 2 at CCJ in 2021

The Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) reported that it appeared in 25 matters at the Guyana Court of Appeal, and another two at the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) during 2021.
Of the 25 matters presented at the Court of Appeal, 10 were for murder, six for sexual offences, two for fraudulent conversion and one each of manslaughter, dangerous driving, obtaining upon a forged document, possession of explosives, obtaining money by false pretence, robbery under arms, attempt to murder with an alternative count of wounding with intent.
In seven of these matters, the Court of Appeal affirmed the convictions but varied the sentences. Another appellant was granted his application to appeal and will have a new trial. Three applications were dismissed, while two appellants had their convictions and sentences set aside. Seven appellants were granted extension of time to file and serve notices of appeal. An application for bail pending appeal was granted, three appellants withdrew their applications to appeal and one applicant decided he will pursue his application to appeal despite a notice of abandonment.
In 2021, the DPP appeared in two matters at the CCJ. One was an appeal filed by murder accused Marcus Bisram against a ruling by the Guyana Court of Appeal that there is sufficient evidence for him to be committed for trial for the offence of murder in the High Court. The CCJ has granted him a stay in the matter pending the ruling.
The other appeal is that of Calvin Ramcharran v the State for the offences of rape and assault causing actual bodily harm. The arguments in this matter have been completed and the parties are awaiting the decision of the court.
Bibi Shareema Gopaul and Jarvis Small, who were convicted of murder have since filed appeals to the CCJ against their convictions and sentence.
In 2021, the Demerara Full Court sat for three matters. One of these cases was for the offence of possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking. The Court allowed the appellant’s application, quashed the conviction, and set aside the sentence. The other two matters were for illegal entry into Guyana. The appellants in these cases had their sentences reduced and were ordered deported.
Meanwhile, the Berbice Full Court heard 20 matters last year. They were for the offences of dangerous driving, abusive and threatening language, assault causing actual bodily harm, felonious wounding, threatening behaviour, simple larceny, indecent language, possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking, unlawful wounding, injury to growing tree, and malicious damage to property.
Four appellants withdrew their applications to appeal. The Court allowed six applications. Another three applications were allowed in part, in that, the court affirmed their convictions but reduced their sentences. Two appellants had their convictions and sentences set aside while the other one had his conviction affirmed but had a $125,000 fine imposed on him.
The Demerara Full Court dismissed eight applications. In one of the applications, the court varied the appellant’s sentence and imposed a $50,000 fine. In four other applications, the court ruled that it lacked jurisdiction, while three matters were dismissed due to no appearance by defence counsel. Two appellants were granted their applications to appeal against the decision of Magistrates. (G1)