-over 300 criminal cases listed for trial
THE October session of the Demerara Criminal Assizes opened on Tuesday, October 4, 2022, with 307 cases listed for trial.
At present, three judges are on rotation at the Demerara Assizes. Justices Simone Morris-Ramlall and Brassington Reynolds will be dealing with criminal cases, while Justice Sandil Kissoon will be presiding over matters in the Sexual Offences Court.
The Criminal Assizes opened with a parade hosted by the Guyana Police Force (GPF) in which Justice Reynolds inspected the ranks in the company of his fellow judges.
The parade was held in front of the Georgetown High Court, amid much pomp and ceremony. It was also witnessed by Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George.
Of the 307 cases listed, 135 are for sexual offences, including rape, carnal knowledge and buggery.
Muslim scholar Nezaam Ali, who is currently serving a 45-year sentence for raping a nine-year-old boy, will go on trial for sexually abusing eight other boys.
The crimes were allegedly committed between 2011 and 2012 and include 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 be retried for three counts of rape.
In February 2022, he was freed from a rape charge by a 12-member jury. The matter was heard before Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry. He is currently out on bail for the other charges.
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 Florimonte.
Sharnandand Narine, called ‘Anand’ and co-accused Darel Pronton, called ‘Yankee’ are also expected to face trial for the murder of Narine’s ex-wife Babita Sarjou.
Sarjou had left her home to go to the Diwali motorcade on the eve of November 4, 2010, reportedly with Narine, who had called her. She was never seen or heard from again. The woman’s skeletal remains were discovered in Naraine’s backyard on May 22, 2016.
After the first case of the coronavirus was detected in March 2020, the Supreme Court of Judicature suspended jury trials and in-person hearings. Jury trials resumed in October 2021, with access to remote hearings.
