Delayed criminal matters to receive attention in next session of Berbice assizes

Dec 23, 2015 News

A number of criminal matters are set to receive attention in the January session of the Berbice Criminal Assizes. Justice Franklyn Holder has been assigned to preside over the upcoming session. The news of Holder’s appointment comes amidst reports that no judge has been sitting in Berbice since October.
Recently a number of letters have been written to the press over the issue. Kaieteur News understands that the absence of a judge to preside over the criminal assize has affected the work at the High Court in Berbice and has resulted in a backlog. Some 53 criminal matters were set to be heard by Justice William Ramlal in Berbice, last October. Ramlal was expected to take over from Justice Navindra Singh, who presided over the June session. However, the judge was reportedly on sick leave resulting in a delay in the proceedings, since then.
Residents of Berbice have been vocal about the issue and a number of letters have been published about the delay of criminal trials in Berbice. The issue was further highlighted by Public Relations Officer for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, (DPP) Liz Rahaman. In the letter to the editor, Rahaman contended that the holdup is directly linked to the lack of an arbitrator to sit over criminal matters at the Berbice High Court.
Rahaman’s letter was in response to a correspondence published in the December 16, 2015 edition of the newspaper titled, “sister wants justice for brother, crippled by shotgun violence.”
In that letter a relative of the injured man, noted her frustration over the delay in the court proceeding. However, Kaieteur news understands with the appointment of Justice Holder, a number of high profile criminal trials will receive due attention in January.
According to information previously released to the press, in the new session, the trial of Krishna, called ‘John’ and his son Romel Krishna is set to come up for hearing.
The father and son are facing a second indictment of attempted murder and wounding with intent. The duo had previously faced a first indictment for murder. They had faced three trials, including two aborted hearings due to improprieties. At the final trial, the jury had returned a not-guilty verdict.
Another high-profile case listed is that of alleged bank robbers Terrence Azore, Marlon Lepps and Henry Lindie. They are accused of being armed with guns when they robbed the Demerara Bank of $11,200,000.The incident occurred at Rose Hall, Corentyne, Berbice, on August 11, 2006.
In addition, Jaber Fresco, called ‘Bull,’ is indicted with seven counts of carnal knowledge of a girl under 15 years.
Another case of public interest is the second indictment of Hallman Hunte and Sohan Busjit over robbery under arms committed on Probation Officer Nadine Crawford. Initially, the men had been indicted for killing fireman Delon Collins. However, the jury acquitted the duo.
The list also includes four accused persons for whom Bench Warrants had been issued since 2003: Newton Hope (murder) along with Dhanraj Kumar and Carlton Haynes who are facing a manslaughter indictment.

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Delayed criminal matters to receive attention in next session of Berbice assizes

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