THE Demerara April 2022 Criminal Assizes commences today with 354 cases listed to be heard. Justice Sandil Kissoon, together with Madam Justice Jo-Ann Barlow and Madam Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry are rostered to sit during this session.

According to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Chambers, in a press release, of the 30 matters presented, nine were for the offence of murder, 16 were for sexual offences, four for the offence of attempt to commit murder and one for the offence of manslaughter.

The Assizes commenced on 11 January, 2022 and Goal delivery was done by Madam Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall on 4th April, 2022, bringing to an end the Demerara-January 2022 Criminal Assizes.

During this Assizes, Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry; Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall and Justice Brassington Reynolds sat.

The DPP Chambers noted that there were a total of 33 accused in relation to these matters. There were seven convictions, nine guilty pleas, 11 formal verdicts of not guilty, three not guilty verdicts by jury and two hung juries.

Of the 30 cases presented in the High Court, State Counsel Mohamed Muntaz Ali, Nafeeza Baig and Latiffia Elliot completed 16 cases in the Sexual Offences Court before Madam Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.

During this time, the Berbice October 2021 Criminal Assizes had continued with Senior State Counsel Abigail Gibbs, who presented three matters for the offence of murder before Justice Sandil Kissoon, who first sat from October, closed the October session and opened the February 2022 Criminal Assizes.

The Berbice February Criminal Assizes will continue until June 20, 2022.

Meanwhile, the Essequibo October 2021 Criminal Assizes had continued with Senior State Counsel Tiffini Lyken, who completed five matters before Madam Justice Jo-Ann Barlow who sat from January, closed the October Assizes and then opened the February Criminal Assizes.

Of these five matters, two were for sexual offences and one each for the offences of Attempt to Commit Murder and Manslaughter.

In the two separate sexual offences matters, the juries returned unanimous verdicts of not guilty for the accused persons. The Essequibo Assizes remains in progress until May 16, 2022.

Further, the DPP Chambers noted that “we appeared in two appeals in the Court of Appeal. In these matters, the State was represented by ADPP, Mrs. Teshana Lake and ADPP Mrs. Mercedes Glasford for the offences of Obtaining Money by False Pretense and Murder.”

In the matter for the offence of murder, the DPP stated that the four appellants who were convicted together, each had their convictions affirmed but their sentences reduced from 81 years to 50 years. In the matter for Obtaining Money by False Pretense, the appellant who was convicted on two charges was granted bail in the sum of $500,000 on each and must report every Monday to the Criminal Investigations Department where he was also ordered to lodge his passport.

“During the months January, February and March, we appeared in six matters at the Demerara Full Court for one Murder case and five Narcotics Offences. In these six appeals, three appellants had their conviction and sentences set aside. Two appeals were dismissed and one other was allowed in part when the Court affirmed the conviction but reduced the sentence,” the DPP Chambers stated.

Additionally, the DPP Chambers also appeared in three matters at the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). “In one appeal for the offence of Rape and Indecent Assault, the appellant who had appealed against his sentence had his sentence reduced. Another one appellant for the offence of Murder was allowed his appeal. The other one matter for the offence of Murder involving two appellants remains in progress,” the release stated.