During last year the Criminal Assizes of Demerara, Berbice, and Essequibo concluded 332 cases. Ninety-nine related to serious offences such as murder, manslaughter, and sexual crimes, were presented, processed, and concluded between October and December, according to a press release from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
In Demerara, 183 cases were listed to be heard and the proceedings were presided over by Justices Navindra Singh, Jo-Ann Barlow, Sandil Kissoon, Peter Hugh, Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus, and Damone Younge. Some 81 matters were disposed of, 45 presented before the High Court.
Of the 45 cases, the most serious included 21 for murder, 3 for manslaughter, 15 for attempted murder (with alternative counts of felony wounding and wounding with intent), and 5 for sexual offences. Additionally, 36 matters were nolle prosequi by the DPP, and therefore not pursued. In total, 52 accused were involved in the trials across the session.
