During Demerara April 2026 Criminal Assizes which commenced on April 7, 2026 with some 138 matters to be heard before six judges of the High Court, only 25 of those matters were disposed of, according to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).
The State successfully disposed of 25 matters, including 20 cases heard in the High Court and five cases that were discontinued by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) through nolle prosequi. The matters heard by the court comprised 15 murder cases, two cases of attempted murder with alternative counts of felonious wounding, and three sexual offence matters.
According to the jail delivery report, the assizes resulted in 11 guilty pleas, three convictions, four acquittals by jury verdicts, and one hung jury, involving a total of 20 accused persons. A significant number of murder cases concluded with accused persons pleading guilty to the lesser offence of manslaughter.
Before Justice Joy Persaud-Singh, four accused entered guilty pleas to manslaughter, with one juvenile offender receiving a sentence equivalent to time already served on remand, while the remaining three await sentencing. Another accused in a murder trial before the same judge was acquitted by a jury.
Similar outcomes occurred before Justice Nicola Pierre, where two accused pleaded guilty to manslaughter and await sentencing, while another was acquitted.
In addition, before Justice Sandil Kissoon, three accused also pleaded guilty to manslaughter; two have already been sentenced to 18 years and 30 years imprisonment, respectively, while the third awaits sentencing. Additionally, one murder accused was convicted by a jury and awaits sentencing, while another case ended in a hung jury and will be retried.
Before Chief Justice Navindra Singh, an accused charged with murder also pleaded guilty to manslaughter and is awaiting sentencing.
With respect to the sexual offence matters, one accused was convicted on two counts of sexual activity with a child family member and sentenced to 17 years imprisonment on each count, to run concurrently. In another case, an accused charged with sexual assault and rape was acquitted on both counts while a third sexual offence matter remains ongoing before the court.
The assizes also saw the resolution of two attempted murder matters where one accused was acquitted by a majority jury verdict, while the other was found unanimously guilty of the alternative offence of felonious wounding and is awaiting sentencing. In another notable case, an accused charged with murder pleaded guilty as charged and received a sentence of 20 years imprisonment after receiving credit for his guilty plea. The five matters discontinued by the DPP all involved sexual offences.
Discover more from INews Guyana
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
