There are five murder accused sitting in Guyana’s jail awaiting trial since 2005, 2010 and 2011, according to the most recent Jail Delivery released by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). One of them, 29-year-old Kenrick Heywood was committed to stand trial on January 01, 2005 for the November 18, 2003 murder of Police Constable 19314 Jairam Shivram.
The Jail Delivery disclosed that Heywood was in the mental hospital. In June 2010, Heywood appeared before a Judge at the Demerara Criminal Assizes. His trial did not commence as the Judge ordered an independent mental examination be conducted on him. From all indications, it appears as though his mental condition is the cause of the 15 year delay in his trial.
Death row inmate, Mark Williams called ‘Smallie’ and Sherwin Nero, called ‘Cat’ and ‘Pussy’ were committed to stand trial on April 04, 2010 and April 28, 2010 respectively. While it is unclear which murder charge they are to be indicted for; in 2017 Williams was among two men sentenced to death by hanging for slaughtering 12 persons during the 2008 Bartica Massacre.
In January 2019, Williams and Nero were both indicted for the August 30, 2007 murder of Kumar Singh, called ‘Mango Man’. Following a trial by jury, they were both found not guilty. Another prisoner, Michael Caesar called ‘Capone’ who was in December 2016, sentenced to 60 years’ imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to 20 counts of manslaughter in massacres at Lusignan in 2008 and Bartica, was committed to stand trial on November 10, 2010 on another murder charge.
Based on reports, he, along with Williams are accused of the murders of Fazil Hakim called “Boyie” and Rajesh Singh called “Rabbit” which occurred at a liquor bar at Lot 82, Agriculture Road, Triumph, East Coast Demerara in December 2007. The other inmate, Cecil Peters was committed to stand trial for murder on September 23, 2011.
