In the courts
DPP wins appeal case to commit Marcus Bisram to face murder trial: Following a ruling by the Guyana Court of Appeal last week, which found that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) did not act unconstitutionally by ordering that Marcus Bisram be tried for the murder of Faiyaz Narinedatt, the former accused is expected to be placed back into custody. At the conclusion of the appellate court’s ruling last Monday, DPP Shalimar AliHack asked Bisram’s attorney to hand him over to law enforcement officers, even as she signalled that the state will take steps to have him placed in custody. His attorney—Arudranauth Gossai—begged the Court to grant an interim stay of what would be the natural effect of its ruling, as he signaled an intention to appeal to the Caribbean Court of Justice; but his request was denied. Bisram now faces remand to await trial before a judge and jury.
Eighteen years for man who raped, impregnated child: Damon Assanah called “Devil” has been sentenced to 18 years behind bars for raping a 13-year-old girl whom he also impregnated back in 2015. At his sentencing hearing last Thursday, Justice Brassington Reynolds pointed out to an expressionless Assanah that though he sought to plead for the court’s mercy, it did not assist when considering that he refused to express any remorse for his actions. Despite the jury’s verdict, Assanah continues to maintain his innocence, which his attorney Ravindra Mohabir said he should be entitled to do, considering that he has a right to an appeal. Noting the position of trust he breached and what was described as his wanton disregard for the young girl’s bodily integrity, the judge told the convict that he had been enjoying his liberty for the past six years, all while the child had to endure the trauma of the assault. “Real men bow their heads in shame to such conduct,” the judge told Assanah; while adding that children below the age of consent must be left alone by “big men.” “We must cut our eyes on them,” the judge said. “It is ironic that you would go on to father a little girl after committing these dastardly acts,” the judge said.