THE Demerara April 2023 Criminal Assizes commences on Tuesday with 281 cases listed to be heard.

Justice Sandil Kissoon, together with Madam Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry and Justice Navindra Singh are rostered to sit during this session.

The Criminal Assizes opened with a parade hosted by the Guyana Police Force (GPF) during which Justice Singh 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 281 cases listed, 112 are for sexual offences, including rape, carnal knowledge and buggery.

According to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Chambers, during the January Assizes, the State disposed of 49 matters. Of these, 19 were for sexual offences, 15 for murder, one for attempted murder with an alternate count of discharging a loaded firearm with intent and two for the offence of murder in the furtherance of a robbery.

The remaining 12 matters were nolle prosequi by the DPP.

There were 10 guilty pleas, two convictions, 17 formal verdicts of not guilty, 8 verdicts of not guilty, and one hung jury. There was a total of 43 accused in relation to those matters.

Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall and Justice Jo-Ann Barlow were the judges who heard cases during the January Assizes.