The long-anticipated paper committal hearing for Alfred Dejonge, who stands charged with the manslaughter of 22-year-old businesswoman Stacy Walton, has been rescheduled for August 6, 2026, at the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court.
The proceedings, originally slated for Thursday, July 2, were postponed after defense attorney Chandra Sohan was required to attend a High Court engagement before the Chief Justice.
The delay comes amid growing distress from the victim’s family. Raoul Walton, the victim’s father, has maintained a consistent presence at court hearings, expressing deep frustration over the lack of significant progress in the case since it began approximately one year ago.
Representing the family’s interests, overseas-based attorney Rabi S. Sukul appeared virtually during Thursday’s session. He urged the court to prioritize the case, noting the emotional toll that repeated postponements have taken on the parents. Sukul emphasized that establishing a firm date is vital to provide the family with a sense of procedural transparency and peace of mind.
Magistrate Michelle Matthias acknowledged the family’s grievances while clarifying the procedural requirements of the case. She noted that as an indictable matter, the court is following established timelines:
45-Day Windows: The prosecution is allotted 45 days to file statements, with the defense granted an equivalent period to review those statements and determine whether to submit their own.
Judicial Discretion: Magistrate Matthias explained that while the court retains the authority to grant extensions for reasonable requests, the process is proceeding without irregularity.
On August 6, the Magistrate will review the case file to determine if a prima facie case exists. Should the evidence be deemed sufficient, the matter will be committed to the High Court for trial. If the evidence is insufficient, the charge against Dejonge would be dismissed.
Alfred Dejonge, 46, of New Amsterdam, was initially charged with manslaughter on June 25, 2025, and granted $1 million bail. The charge followed the death of Stacy Walton on June 20, 2025.
While the incident was initially reported as a vehicular accident—where Walton’s car plunged into a canal along the No. 7 Public Road, East Coast Berbice—investigators subsequently identified inconsistencies in the statement provided by Dejonge, who was Walton’s boyfriend at the time. Relatives and friends recently marked the one-year anniversary of her passing on June 20, 2026.
