Murders, sexual crimes dominate

Dec 31, 2025 News

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…as High Court clears 200 cases in 2025

(Kaieteur News) – The High Court of Judicature in Demerara, Berbice and Essequibo heard 200 of 310 cases in 2025. Ten matters were Nolle Prosequi (Abandoned) by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

In a statement to the media, the Chambers of the DPPP said that of the 200 cases, 130 were presented at the Demerara Assizes, 26 at the Berbice Assizes and 44 at the Essequibo Assizes.

There were 100 murder cases, 16 manslaughter cases, and several cases of sexual offences, attempt to commit murder, and one each for the offences of conspiracy to commit murder, accessory after the fact to murder, felonious wounding and wounding with intent.

There were 29 convictions, 94 guilty pleas, 39 not guilty verdicts by jury, 44 normal verdicts of not guilty, 2 hung juries and 1 aborted trial. Further, 218 accused persons had their trials heard in the High Courts.

According to the press release, the DPP’s office received 228 committals documents, 158 of these were for the County of Demerara, 35 for the County of Berbice and 35 for the County of Essequibo.

“Of these 225 depositions, 190 have been indicted, charges for 19 were discontinued because there were insufficient evidence for the DPP to prefer an indictment, 2 are receiving attention, 4 were remitted to the Magistrates’ Courts for additional evidence to be taken,” the DPP’s Chambers said while noting that the DPP’s office proffered legal advice in 4,060 police files received from the Guyana Police Force.

Meanwhile, the Demerara January 2026 Criminal Assizes will open on Tuesday 13th January, 2026, with 26 cases listed to be heard before the Chief Justice (ag) Navindra Singh and Justices Gino Persaud, Simone Morris and Hessaun Yasin.

Of the 26 cases, 30 are for the offence of murder, 7 for manslaughter, 11 for attempted murder, 1 for trafficking in narcotics and 77 sexual offences cases to be heard by one judge in the Sexual Offences Court.

The Berbice October 2025 Criminal Assizes will continue in January until Tuesday 3rd February, 2026 when the February Criminal Assizes will open. Madam Justice Deborah Kumar-Chetty will preside in the criminal court from January to March 2026.

The Essequibo October 2025 Criminal Assizes also continues in January and will conclude on February 17, 2026 when the February Assizes opens. Madam Justice Fidela Corbin-Lincoln will preside in the criminal court from January to March 2026.

COURT OF APPEAL

Forty-three matters were heard in the Court of Appeal and according to the DPP’s Chambers, the state was represented by the DPP Mrs. Shalimar Ali-Hack, SC, Assistant DPP Dionne McCammon, ADPP Teshana Lake, ADPP Diana O’Brien, ADPP Natasha Backer, ADPP Lisa Cave, ADPP, Tiffini Lyken, State Counsel Mohammed Muntaz Ali, State Counsel Joy Williams, State Counsel Rbina Christmas and State Counsel Mtumika Lumumba.

“Of these 43 matters, 6 were for Murder, 5 for Manslaughter, t4 for Sexual Offences, 4 for Possession of Narcotics for the Purpose of Trofficking,3 for Attempt to Commit Murder, 4 Obtaining by False Pretense, 2 for Felonious Wounding and one each for the offences of Assault Causing Actual Bodily Harm, causing Death by Dangerous Driving, Utter A Forged Document, Simple Larceny and Possession of Firearm with License,” the press release said.

Of the 43 matters, 20 were for bail pending appeals against convictions and sentence; 12 were denied, 6 granted and 2 were withdrawn.

“Five other matters were appealed against conviction and sentence; 7 of these were denied. While 7 others were allowed of which 6 appellants had their sentences varied and reduced. One other who was a juvenile when the crime was committed, had his case re-directed back to the High Court and after the tendering of Welfare, Probation and Medical Reports, the High Court ordered that the accused be discharged at the Courts’ pleasure when it was satisfied that Section 38 of the Juvenile Offenders Act in relation to the appellant was achieved. The appellant had served 14 years and 10 months in prison.

One matter remains in progress.

There were 8 applications for Extension of Time to File and Serve Notice to Appeal, of which, 7 were granted and l was withdrawn,” the DPP’s chambers said.

FULL COURT

ln 2025, three matters were heard in the Demerara Full Court, one each for possession of ammunition and firearm without a license, possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking and assault.

Of the three applications, one was for Extension of Time to File an appeal against a magistrate’s decision. This was dismissed. The two others were applications for bail pending appeals; one was granted while the other was withdrawn.

Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ)

Additionally, the DPP chambers said that during July to November 2025, it submitted legal documents in response to an appeal filed at the CCJ in one matter for a sexual offence. “The appellant in this matter was found guilty by a majority jury verdict in the Berbice Criminal Assizes and sentenced to 25 years imprisonment in August 2018. He subsequently filed an appeal against his conviction and sentence in the Guyana Court of Appeal (COA). The COA dismissed the appeal against conviction and allowed the appeal against sentence and sentenced him to 20 years imprisonment with deductions made for time spent on remand. The appeal before the CCJ remains in progress.”

Meanwhile, in 2024, 10 new Puisne judges were appointed which resulted in four judges sitting in the Demerara High Court Assizes during 2025. “With the increase in the number of judges sitting in the Assizes there has been a great improvement in the number of criminal cases disposed of in the High Courts in Guyana which reduced the backlog. This also resulted in cases being heard in a relatively speedier manner than before in adherence with the Needham Point Declaration and consequently persons having to wait less time for the hearing of their cases,” the press release said.

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• High Court, murders, Nolle Prosequi, sexual crimes

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