Femi Harris-Smith

Pleading guilty to the charge of manslaughter, Paul James who back in 2015 had identified Hardat Kissoon to another person who would later shoot and kill him in a robbery after leaving a bank, was yesterday afternoon sentenced to 10 years behind bars with time spent awaiting trial to be deducted.

Stating that his client had been on remand for 8 and 1/2 years awaiting trial on a charge of murder which should not have been instituted in the first place, attorney Maxwell Mc Kay yesterday afternoon succeeded in requesting a sentence of time-served instead.

On the second day of the resumption of jury trials at the High Court in George-town, the case of Odel Roberts who is accused of the 2015 murder of Sophia businessman Shawn Anys was empanelled before Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.

A 31-year-old father has been granted his wish to see his twin sons for the first time, after he was released from prison yesterday on time-served, having spent almost eight years on remand awaiting trial.

Two murder accused were discharged yesterday morning when they appeared before Justice Navindra Singh following the opening of the October assizes, which also marked the resumption of criminal jury trials at the High Court in Georgetown since Guyana was hit by the Coronavirus pandemic back in March.

Since Guyana recorded its first case of and death from the Coronavirus back in March, jury trials resumed yesterday morning at the High Court in Georgetown in what acting Chief Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire said is a safe environment for all.

In wake of the recent unrest at the Lusignan Prison, inmates have raised a number of concerns—among them overcrowding at the penal facility which they say has become unbearable and frustrating.

While the High Court has announced its intention to physically resume criminal trials on October 6th, the Guyana Bar Association (GBA) has expressed the view that given the COVID-19 pandemic, trials should not recommence at this time.

High Court criminal trials are set to recommence on October 6th when the final of the assizes for this year is also expected to be declared open.

Describing the Ministry of Legal Affairs as being “dormant” over the past five years, Attorney General (AG) Anil Nandlall yesterday told the National Assembly that a clear legislative agenda is now in place as he promised less wastage in spending and the delivery of judicial reforms under his stewardship. 

The main opposition A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) has filed its second petition challenging the March 2nd polls and is seeking to have the court nullify the outcome and to declare President Irfaan Ali to be illegally holding office.

The Opposition APNU+AFC yesterday filed its much-talked-about elections petition challenging the results of the March 2nd General and Regional elections which saw the PPP/C winning the seat of government.

With a vision of empowering women as one of its hallmarks, the law firm of Kyte Small Barker—which consists of only female attorneys—the only such firm in the country is committed to a goal of ensuring that women attain the very best version of themselves.

The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has upheld a decision of the Guyana Court of Appeal which it said acted upon correct principles of law in upholding the 2015 ruling of the High Court which had ordered the winding up of S.

On advice from the court, lawyer Darren Wade yesterday withdrew the habeas corpus application he filed at the High Court on behalf of his client—embattled District Four Returning Officer (RO) Clairmont Mingo, who is currently the subject of a police probe into alleged electoral fraud.

At 10 this morning, Justice of Appeal Rishi Persaud, who is currently performing the duties of Chief Justice, will hear a habeas corpus application filed by District Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo who is requesting his immediate release from police custody.

Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Shalimar Ali-Hack SC has filed an application seeking to have struck out, the more than $50M suit for damages for defamation brought against her by Magistrate Alex Moore. 

Former Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Vishnu Persaud has won just under $5M in a lawsuit he brought against the Guyana Chronicle and GECOM Commissioner Vincent Alexander for defamatory statements they made about him.

Having been incorrectly classified as a non­-commercial company, Grace Kennedy Remittance Services (GKRS) limited has incurred a more than $300M debt in taxes to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA).

The Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) yesterday withdrew all 19 fraud charges that it had previously instituted against new president Irfaan Ali as it said it would no longer proceed with them.