Latest update April 15th, 2025 7:12 AM

Guyana's largest selling daily and New York's most popular weekly

Latest News

Correcting the gap in our criminal justice system

Aug 03, 2008 Letters

Dear Editor,
People are very disappointed, including victims and their relatives, when dangerous criminals are able to walk away free from a High Court trial, because of legal technicalities, or errors of the trial judge, with no hope whatsoever of an appeal from the prosecution.

If, on the other hand, the person is convicted, he has a guaranteed right of appeal, no matter how flimsy may be the grounds of appeal.

All the rights seem to be weighed in the favour of the criminals, with no right of redress, in the face of faulty decisions by the trial judge, by the state prosecutor on behalf of the people and the victims.

The Court of Appeal (Amendment) Bill 2008 seeks to correct this gap in our criminal justice system by giving such a right to the state, strictly against decisions of the judge, and not against the decisions of the jury.

The rights, powers, authority and privileges of the jury remain unencumbered and sacrosanct under the proposed legislation, and are not tampered with.

We do need a revision of the law to be able to appeal against judicial errors, so as to keep off the streets dangerous criminals who are placed before the courts by law enforcement agencies after much time and work, but are able to walk free to continue their wicked ways, simply because of legal technicalities and wrong decisions on questions of law by the judges, with no right of appeal by the prosecution. The time has come for an end to this situation.

John Da Silva

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show|| April, 14th, 2025

 

 

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Beckford brace Slingerz to fourth win on the trot, as Santos topple Den Amstel

Beckford brace Slingerz to fourth win on the trot, as Santos topple...

Apr 15, 2025

-GFF Elite League Season VII weekend continues Kaieteur Sports- The rumble of football action echoed once again at the National Training Centre over the weekend as Season VII of the Guyana Football...
Read More
West Indies Women’s World Cup hopes in jeopardy after crushing defeat to Pakistan

West Indies Women’s World Cup hopes in jeopardy...

Apr 15, 2025

GCC, Ogle, East Bank among winners as Demerara Zone heats up 

GCC, Ogle, East Bank among winners as Demerara...

Apr 15, 2025

Unbeaten GCA storm to 2025 title

Unbeaten GCA storm to 2025 title

Apr 15, 2025

Tucber Park Cricket Club receives cricket gear from Minister Zulfikar Mustapha

Tucber Park Cricket Club receives cricket gear...

Apr 15, 2025

Young guns flourish at Moo! National Junior’s Squash C/ship

Young guns flourish at Moo! National Junior’s...

Apr 15, 2025

Features/Columnists

  • Of Silk and Steel

    Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News-  By the time the first container ship from China—the Liu Lin Hai—steamed into a port... more

Publisher’s Note

Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.

Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]