More judges, faster trials: 310 cases disposed in 2025 Criminal Assizes

Criminal courts saw a marked increase in case disposals during the 2025 Criminal Assizes, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack, SC, said on Tuesday, citing expanded judicial capacity and improved case management.
According to the DPP’s October 2025 Criminal Assizes and Year-End Press Release, a total of 310 cases were disposed of during the year, with 200 matters heard in the High Courts of Demerara, Berbice and Essequibo. The remaining cases were discontinued, primarily due to unavailable witnesses or insufficient evidence.
The Demerara Assizes, which began on October 7, listed 143 cases before acting Chief Justice Navindra Singh and Justices Gino Persaud, Damone Younge and Jacqueline Josiah-Graham. The State disposed of 36 cases, including murder, manslaughter, attempted murder and sexual offence matters, through guilty pleas, convictions, acquittals and formal not-guilty verdicts.
In Essequibo, 26 of 65 cases listed during the October Assizes were completed by December 31, with sentences ranging from three years to more than 20 years. The Berbice Assizes, which opened on October 21 with 65 cases, concluded 12 matters by year-end, with several sentencing hearings scheduled for January 2026.
For 2025 overall, the DPP’s Chambers reported handling 100 murder cases, 59 sexual offence matters, 19 attempted murder cases and 16 manslaughter matters in the High Courts. Outcomes included 94 guilty pleas, 29 convictions after trial, 39 jury acquittals, 44 formal not-guilty verdicts, two hung juries and one aborted trial, involving 218 accused persons.
Prosecutors also appeared in 43 appeals before the Court of Appeal and handled matters before the Full Court and the Caribbean Court of Justice, where one sexual offence appeal remains ongoing.
The DPP highlighted the appointment of 10 new puisne judges in 2024 as a turning point for the criminal justice system, allowing multiple courts to sit simultaneously and significantly improving case disposal rates.
“The increased judicial capacity has reduced delays and allowed accused persons to have their matters heard more quickly,” the Chambers said, noting that the courts are preparing for the January and February 2026 Criminal Assizes.