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Murder, sexual offence cases dominate 2018
State prosecutors continue to work to dispose of hundreds of cases engaging the court system.
According to the Office of Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), during 2018, 195 cases were disposed of – 129 of these cases received attention in the courts, while 66 matters were nolle prosequi by the DPP.
Of these cases, 90 were presented from the Demerara Assizes; 27 from the Berbice Assizes and 12 from the Essequibo Assizes. There were 54 cases for murder, 15 cases for the offence of rape; 15 cases for sexual activity with a child family member; 13 for attempt to commit murder; 23 cases of rape of a child under 16 years; five for the offence of manslaughter and one case each for the offences of carnal knowledge of a girl under 15 years; causing death by dangerous driving and wounding with intent.
From the cases presented, 147 persons were charged.
According to the DPP, 34 of these persons pleaded guilty; 50 were convicted, formal verdicts of not guilty were delivered in relation to 18. There were 25 not guilty verdicts by jury, six hung verdicts, and one aborted trial, mistrial and quashed indictment.
Director of Public Prosecutions, Shalimar Ali-Hack
The DPP also disclosed that 16 of the 228 matters slated to be heard were disposed of during the October Demerara Criminal Assizes, which ended on December 19. The Assizes commenced on October 2.
According to the DPP, 13 received attention in the High Court of Demerara while three were nolle prosequi by the DPP.
Of the 13 cases that were presented, six were for sexual offences and seven others for the offence of murder. There were six guilty verdicts by jury, three guilty pleas, two formal verdicts of not guilty, and one hung jury and one mistrial.
In Berbice, State Counsel Mandel Moore has completed seven cases.
Of these seven matters, three were for the offence of murder, two for attempted murder, one for rape and another for rape of a child under the age of 16.
Meanwhile, in Essequibo, 78 matters have been listed. State Counsel Shawnette Austin has completed three matters. Of the three matters, two were for the offence of sexual activity with a child family member and one for the offence of murder.
The January 2019 Criminal Assizes for Demerara will open on January 8.
There are 260 cases listed to be heard during the session. Justice James
Bovell-Drakes, Justice Navindra Singh and Madam Justice Jo-Ann Barlow have been rostered to sit during this Assizes.
The 2O19 Berbice Criminal Assizes will commence on February 12, while the Essequibo Criminal Assizes is expected to open on February 5. Justice Sandil Kissoon will sit.
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