UNDER strict COVID-19 health guidelines, the October session of the Demerara Criminal Assizes will open today at the High Court in Georgetown, and several high-profile cases are among 341 that are set for trial.
Madam Justice Jo-Ann Barlow and Justice Navindra Singh have been rostered to preside during this session.
The list includes 69 cases for murder, 19 for manslaughter, 168 rape-related matters and other cases such as abduction, wounding, robbery under arms, possession of narcotics and stealing a child.
Muslim scholar, Nezaam Ali, who is currently serving a 45-year sentence for raping a nine-year-old boy, is among the high-profile cases on the list.
Ali will go on trial for eight additional counts of sexually abusing eight boys. The crimes were allegedly committed between 2011 and 2012 and includes sexual activity with a child under 16 years and sexual activity with a child by abusing a position of trust.
Another well-known case is that of former Bishops’ High School teacher, Coen Jackson, who is set to go on trial for engaging in sexual activity with a child under the age of 16, while being in a position of trust. He is currently out on bail.
Additionally, for the capital offence of murder, hotel proprietor, Erwin Bacchus is expected to stand trial for the August 2018 killing of his neighbour, Jason De Floirmonte.
Aubrey Bobb is also expected to face trial for the murder of 64-year-old Godfrey Scipio, called “Saga”, a popular businessman, who was shot dead outside a city hotel in 2017.
In an effort to balance public health and safety imperatives with the need for continuing access to justice and openness, practice direction protocols have been put in place for the smooth and safe resumption of criminal jury trials.
This practice direction shall operate together with the constitution and other laws, the COVID-19 Emergency Measures of the Ministry of Health and the relevant practice directions issued by the Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag), Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards, in 2020.
The objective of this practice direction is to preserve the right of the accused to a fair trial while maintaining the integrity of the judicial process.
It will also ensure that jury trials and court practices are designed to minimise the exposure of judges, jurors, court staff, the accused, witnesses, attorneys, members of the media and the public, to infection.
