Of the 329 cases listed for hearing in the April 2021 session of the Demerara criminal assizes, only 18 matters were disposed of, one of which the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) declared nolle prosequi.
Of the 17 cases presented, the majority – 11, were for murder and six for Sexual Offences.
Of all of the matters heard, the prosecution was able only to secure six convictions. There were four acquittals, two formal verdicts of not guilty and in five cases, the accused threw themselves at the mercy of the court, entering guilty pleas.
