Judge unable to hand down sentences due to probation report delays

The absence of probation reports prevented Justice Brassington Reynolds from handing down sentences in two cases at the Berbice Assizes on Tuesday.

Hansel Lewis, called ‘Smiley,’ and Omar Bacchus were expected to be sentenced for attempted murder and manslaughter, respectively, but probation officers were unable to submit reports that were ordered in both cases.

This newspaper was reliably informed that a senior probation officer has claimed to have had to prepare five reports for the lower court and was, therefore, unable to investigate the current matter.  The other officer completed her assignment but needed the document to be vetted by her superiors.

Consequently, the matters have been adjourned to July 15.

Lewis, of Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam, Berbice, was found guilty by a jury on June 20 of the attempted murder of Chris Burrowes, called ‘Boonee,’ during the early hours of New Year’s Day 2013.

Bacchus, meanwhile, had confessed to the lesser count of manslaughter after being charged with killing the mentally ill Chandradat Hemraj, called ‘Fish Fry’ and ‘Sunny Boy,’ between August 30 and September 3, 2008.

Bacchus has been the longest remanded prisoner at the New Amsterdam Prison, having been incarcerated for over seven years while awaiting trial.