Four prisoners request to plead to capital offence
– But State can only accept two

IN a Gaol Delivery read in the Berbice Assizes, Senior Superintendent of Prisons, Mr Linden Cornette, revealed that four inmates of the New Amsterdam Prison who are facing murder charges are requesting to be allowed to plead when their cases come up for hearing at the Berbice Assizes.Those who have submitted written statements to support their claim are murder accused Bheem Evans, Navin Sugrim, Roy Lewis, and Fazal Mohammed.

But in an invited comment, State Prosecutrix Ms Renita Singh told the Guyana Chronicle that only two of the men would be allowed to plead, as their cases are listed for hearing during the June sessions of the Berbice Assizes.

“We will have Sugrim and Mohammed brought for hearing as early as possible, but we are not in possession of the files pertaining to Evans and Lewis. Those files have to go through an administrative procedure before they are perused by the Chambers and affixed to the list,” she stated.

In the meantime, 38 male inmates are committed and are awaiting trial at the Berbice Assizes, and Senior Prison Superintendent Linden Cornette said 23-year-old Omar Bacchus, the longest serving committed prisoner, who had been admitted to the New Amsterdam Prison on September 5, 2008 and had been committed by then Berbice Magistrate Chandra Sohan on December 12, 2011, is yet to stand trial in the Berbice Assizes.

It was noted that of the thirty-four inmates who are all requesting early trial, 28 are listed for murder, with the oldest accused being 57-year-old Roy Pestano, who is facing a retrial; and the youngest being 17-year-old Warmish Rambalee.

Additionally, three inmates — Joseph Moore, aged 46 years; Abdool Mohammed, aged 48 years; and Amdat Persaud — remain at the penal institution for the offence of sexual penetration; while Mahendra Doodnauth is committed for the offence of escape from lawful custody; convicted prisoner David Andrews for being in possession of firearm without licence; and Doodraj Dass for unlawful and malicious wounding.

Giving sworn evidence before Justice Brassington Reynolds, Snr Supt. Cornette further stated that there are no female prisoners listed for trial at the Berbice Assizes.

(With Jeune Bailey Vankeric)