Appeal Court reduces 17 sentences, orders 7 retrials

Dec 30, 2018 News

Continuing its mandate to ensure the dispensation of justice, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) appeared in 57 matters at the Court of Appeal this year. Of the lot, the Court of Appeal ordered retrials for seven of the accused, while 17 others had their sentences and convictions varied or commuted.
According to information from the DPP, 13 persons were denied bail pending appeal, while four others were granted same. In another matter, a fine was imposed and three applications for extension of time to file and serve Notice of Appeal were granted.
Six persons withdrew their applications to appeal. Only one matter was struck out.
In another matter, the Court did not convene because of the death of the appellant. Another person who appealed his life sentence had his appeal allowed in so far as the stipulation of calendar years. In another case, the State appealed the decision of the Chief Justice that the Sexual Offences Act is unconstitutional as it does not permit cross examination of prosecution witness, including complainants.
The Court ruled that the committal was valid and awarded cost in the sum of $75,000 to the State. Two matters are still pending.
In 2018, the Demerara Full Court sat 19 times and during that time a matter was dismissed after the Court ruled it had no jurisdiction to hear it. The Full Court allowed seven persons to appeal their conviction and sentence, while five other matters were dismissed.
Also, at the Demerara Full Court, three persons withdrew their appeal, while two others had their application to appeal conviction and sentence granted in part. One had his sentence reduced to 30 hours of community service and the other had his conviction affirmed but sentence varied.
Appearing in these matters were the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Mrs. Shalimar Ali-Hack, Deputy DPP (ag) Sonia Joseph, Assistant DPP Dionne McCammon, Assistant DPP Teshana Lake, Assistant DPP Diana O’Brien, Senior State Counsel Stacy Goodings, Senior State Counsel Natasha Backer, Senior State Counsel Mercedes Glasford, State Counsel Narissa Leander, State Counsel Tuana Hardy, State Counsel Shawnette Austin, State Counsel Tameika Clarke and State Counsel Seeta Bishundial.

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