38 murder cases lead 92 matters as Berbice Criminal Assizes open

The February 2026 sitting of the Berbice Criminal Assizes in Region Six officially got under way on Tuesday, with 92 accused persons scheduled to face trial over the coming months. Murder cases dominate the session, accounting for 38 of the matters.
The assizes opened with the customary march past outside the High Court on Esplanade Road in New Amsterdam, Berbice.

Proceedings are expected to continue until June and will cover a wide range of serious offences, including murder, manslaughter, attempted murder, sexual offences, robbery under arms, abduction, and financial crimes.Justice Deborah Kumar-Chetty is presiding over the assizes, while the State’s case is being led by attorney-at-law Marisa Edwards.Murder remains the most prominent charge, with several cases involving multiple defendants. Some indictments name as many as five persons in connection with a single killing.

Six accused are facing manslaughter charges, including one retrial.
Eleven defendants are listed for attempted murder, often alongside alternative charges such as wounding with intent or felonious wounding.

Sexual offences also feature prominently. Six accused face charges involving adult complainants, while 14 are charged with sexual activity involving minors under the age of 16, including multiple-count indictments. Another seven defendants face charges relating to sexual offences involving child family members, with repeated incidents alleged in some cases.

Other matters include a robbery under arms, a joint case involving five accused charged with breaking and entering and receiving stolen property, one case of embezzlement and larceny by a clerk or servant, and three abduction cases accompanied by assault-related charges.
Four accused have indicated their intention to plead guilty during the session.