| The three Judges who presided over the 2013 January Demerara Assizes – Madam Justice Dawn Gregory,China Jerseys, Madam Justice Roxanne George and Justice Navindra Singh,Wholesale Jerseys NFL, were able to conclude 28 cases out of 241 matters scheduled to be heard in the High Court.Justice Singh was able to complete nine cases for the offence of murder via verdicts. In two of the matters dealt with,Air Max Ireland Outlet, two cases ended with the upholding of no case submissions. There had been five guilty verdicts, two not guilty,Air Max 270 Sale, two hung juries, while an accused was committed to the National Psychiatric Hospital.Madam Justice George completed seven cases; two guilty verdicts, three not guilty and two no case submissions. Madam Justice Gregory completed four matters; two no case submission, two guilty verdicts and one accused was unfit to plead to the charge.Of the 28 cases completed, three murder matters and six ‘rape of a child under the age of 16’ matters, were declared nolle prosequi (unwilling to pursue/do not prosecute) by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), while one accused died before his matter could have been completed.In two murder matters, there was insufficient evidence at the time. One matter which was heard by Justice Singh involved six accused charged for murder; but the number three accused was nolle prosequi for insufficient evidence.Of the six rape matters that were declared nolle prosequi, four of them were for charges under the new Sexual Act and due to the Amendment,Authentic NHL Jerseys, the DPP discontinued the charges so that these matters can have the benefit of the Amendment. For the other two matters, the virtual complainants indicated that they no longer wished to proceed.Justice Franklin Holder sat at the Essequibo Criminal Assizes for January, he continued the October 2012 Criminal Assizes, and then opened the Essequibo February Assizes on Tuesday February 19, 2013. Twenty-two cases were listed to be heard for the February Assizes. During this period Justice Holder completed three (3) matters, two of which are from the February list.The three cases completed are for the offence of murder. In the first murder case, the accused pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of Manslaughter and was sentenced to fourteen (14) years imprisonment.And in the other two cases the trial judge upheld a no case submission and directed the jury to return a formal verdict of not guilty.At the same time, Justice Brassington Reynolds sat in the Berbice Assizes with effect from January he continued the October 2012 Criminal Assizes and then opened the Berbice February Assizes on February 5. Six matters received attention during this period. Four matters were disposed of by Justice Reynolds from a list of forty-five cases. Of these four matters, three of them were for the offence of murder and one for attempt to commit murder.In two of the murder cases, the trial judge imposed the death penalty after the jury returned with a unanimous verdict of guilty against the accused persons. And in the third murder case, the accused pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of manslaughter and was sentenced to eight years imprisonment after Justice Reynolds had considered the findings of a Probation Report which was requested by the Defence.In the matter for the offence of attempt to commit murder, the Judge directed the jury to return a formal verdict of not guilty after the victim indicated to the court that he did not wished to proceed with the matter.Two matters were declared nolle prosequi by the DPP for the offence of Carnal Knowledge. This occurred because the virtual complainants indicated that they no longer wished to proceed with these matters. The session will continue until June 17.The April 2013 Assizes for Demerara was opened yesterday. There are 219 cases listed to be heard during the session before Justice James Bovell-Drakes,Diego Maradona Jersey, Justice Navindra Singh and Justice Brassington Reynolds. The Essequibo Assizes will commence on Tuesday May 21, 2013 before Justice Franklin Holder while the next Berbice Assizes will start on Tuesday June 18, 2013, before Madam Justice Dawn Gregory. |
