Judge compels prisoners attendance at jail delivery
THE June Criminal Sessions of the Berbice Assizes closed with 11 prisoners, who were committed to stand trial since 2006, being told that either their indictments were not filed or that the depositions were not received at the Chambers of the  Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). This disclosure was made during a history-making move in the ‘Ancient County’, recently, when 11 of the 27 prisoners, listed for early trials, appeared before Justice Roxanne George, at her request, during the jail delivery.
The purpose of their presence was for the court to get an insight into what was happening to the prisoners who have been in custody for as long as five years.
With respect to Vijai Seonarine, a recaptured escapee who could not afford to post the $100,000 bail pending his carnal knowledge trial; Delon Thompson  who faces a  robbery under arms charge and murder accused Chetram Nowrang, Colin Bentick, Herman Ally, Deodat Sookhoo and Shameer Sakawat, their indictments have not been filed, although they have been in custody since 2006 and 2007.
Shawn Tyndall, who was indicted for the capital offence and has been in custody since October 2006, sought a postponement of his case, in order to allow his relatives an opportunity to raise the required fees to retain counsel.
But others accused of unlawful killing, Sean Bacchus, Andy Adams and Mark Massiah, recently committed to stand trial, their depositions nor the relevant police files have  been received at the DPP’s chambers, according to State Counsel Rhondel Weaver.
Meanwhile, in response to the judge, Adams recounted that his prolonged incarceration is due to the fact that the preliminary inquiry (PI) was heard before four magistrates over a five-year period and only concluded with him being committed for jury trial last August.
Justice George disclosed that, where cases are not tried or the prosecutor has not been in a position to present an indictment, it should be indicated at the next or subsequent Jail Delivery, so that the accused are aware of the status of their cases.
Prison Officer Lorraine Brathwaithe, who submitted the list she prepared and was signed by Superintendent of Prisons Carl Graham, said the all male prisoners, include 15 who are facing murder charges, four for sexual penetration, three for carnal knowledge, two each for buggery and robbery under arms and one for break and enter and larceny.