As the High Court prepares to convene in Demerara starting Tuesday, January 13, 2026, a comprehensive list of criminal cases, encompassing serious offences from murder to sexual crimes, awaits judicial attention. The Official Gazette reveals hundreds of cases awaiting trial or decision before March, including several high-profile murder cases and numerous rape charges.
Notably absent from this session’s schedule is the widely publicized murder case involving Marlan da Silva, which has not been included among the indictments.
Among the oldest cases slated for trial is that of Samuel Cornelius, charged with the murder of 17-year-old Anfernee Bowman, who was fatally stabbed during an altercation on February 27, 2012, near a tuition center in South Ruimveldt. Cornelius has been in remand since March 2012, with a preliminary inquiry committing him to trial in January 2013. After a protracted legal battle, which included a 2014 trial and a subsequent appeal that quashed his acquittal in 2018, the case highlights the judicial backlog in Guyana.
Another notable case involves Shaquawn Alleyne, also known as “Iswe,” who faces murder charges related to the death of his fiancée, Shonette Dover. Missing since April 3, 2021, Dover’s body was discovered in a shallow grave; investigators determined she died from a gunshot wound to the head. Alleyne, arrested in Suriname in January 2024, maintains that the shooting was accidental, occurring while he was cleaning the firearm.
Dover’s sister, age 15, was previously charged as an accessory after allegedly leading police to the burial site and confessing to witnessing the incident.
The Gazette lists numerous murder charges scheduled for trial, including cases against:
- Dwayne Castello (aka Dwayne Charles c/d Top Cat)
- Samorea Mitchell (c/d Pastor)
- Bryan Leitch (c/d Big Foot) – retrial
- Marlon Hunte
- Damian Ming
- Joshua Thomas (c/d Josh)
Additionally, a significant number of statutory rape and rape cases are on the docket, encompassing charges of simple rape to multiple counts involving underage victims. The list includes:
- John Sampson and Alex Williams – Rape
- Carl Gibbons (c/d Sponge Bob) – Rape
- Various individuals charged with rape and related offences against children.
In total, over 50 entries concerning sexual offences, particularly involving children, underscore the urgent need for action in this area. With hundreds of rape cases reported to the Guyana Police Force each year, these serious offences pose a significant public concern, and many cases will advance to High Court trials after preliminary proceedings.
As the judiciary grapples with this heavy caseload, the outcomes of these trials are poised to have significant ramifications for the community.
