The Demerara April Criminal Assizes began on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, with a total of 105 cases scheduled for hearing. Madam Justice Jo-Ann Barlow, Madam Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall, Madam Justice Zamilla Ally-Seepaul, Justice Nareshwar Harnanan, and Madam Justice Dameon Younge are rostered to preside over the proceedings.

This commencement follows the recent conclusion of the January Criminal Assizes, which commenced on January 14, 2025, with 134 cases listed. During the January session, the State disposed of 59 matters, with 38 presented in the High Court. Among these cases, 20 were for murder, four for attempted murder with alternative counts of felonious wounding, two for manslaughter, and 12 for sexual offences. Notably, one murder case remains in progress.

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) nolle prosequi 21 cases during the January assizes, reflecting a decision not to proceed with these matters. The outcomes from the disposed cases included seven convictions, 19 guilty pleas, seven not guilty verdicts by jury, and eight formal not guilty verdicts.

In the January session, State Counsel Joy Williams, Rbina Christmas, and Mtumika Lumumba presented eight cases before Madam Justice Barlow, primarily focused on murder charges. Three defendants in murder trials pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of manslaughter, resulting in 10-year prison sentences each. One case saw the State offering no evidence, leading to a formal not guilty verdict by the jury.

State Counsel Caressa Henry and Padma Dubraj handled 12 sexual offences in the Sexual Offences Court, with mixed results. Out of 11 cases, three resulted in acquittals, while two defendants pleaded guilty—one receiving a sentence of three years probation with mandatory community service, and the other, a juvenile, placed into the custody of the New Opportunity Corps for 18 months.

In another segment of the January assizes, State Counsel Simran Gajraj, Mikel Puran, and Yonika Rowland presented five cases before Madam Justice Zamilla Ally-Seepaul, where three defendants pleaded guilty to manslaughter. One juvenile accused received a sentence of time served and three years of probation in accordance with the Juvenile Justice Act.

The Berbice October 2024 Criminal Assizes continued concurrently with State Counsel Cecilia Corbin completing six matters before Madam Justice Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus, while the Essequibo October 2024 Criminal Assizes progressed under State Counsel Latifah Elliot.

As the April Criminal Assizes unfold, the legal community remains attentive to the developments and outcomes of the upcoming hearings. The Court of Appeal has also been active, with nine appeals addressing various offences, including murder and sexual offences, and applications for bail pending appeal being denied.

The DPP’s chambers continue to emphasize the importance of judicial efficiency and transparency as these significant cases proceed through the legal system.