The next High Court Assizes is scheduled for May 8, 2012.

Ms. Benjamin said there were some six trials for crimes including death by dangerous driving, wounding with intent, indecent assault and robbery. Two of the trials resulted in guilty verdicts, there was one guilty plea, two acquittals, while one ended in mistrial.

In addition to the trials, four other defendants pleaded guilty and were sentenced during the Assizes.

There was also the case involving Antiguan Samuel James, who was found not guilty by a nine member jury of attempted murder but guilty of wounding with intent, his wife, Loretta James and was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment by Judge Rita Olivetti.

Also Kareem Simon, who pleaded guilty to the charge of aggravated burglary after it was reported that he and others allegedly stormed the Road Town Police Station on November 2010, was sentenced to 8 years in prison.

James and Simon's sentencing were handed down on the final day of the last Assizes.

On the closing day also, Judge Olivetti ruled that convicted murderers Lynn Mervin Weekes and Jerry Martin, who are still serving life sentences, are capable of being rehabilitated and eligible for parole.

Judge Olivetti in concluding Weekes’ eligibility for parole said he had displayed exemplary conduct in prison and was not considered to be a danger to the public, noting that Weekes was even allowed to come out of prison to spend Christmas Day with his family.

She then said Weekes would be eligible for parole in 18 years and the time already spent in prison must also be taken into account, which means that he has already served some 13 years in prison since being arrested and convicted for the murder.

Jerry Martin, who was convicted in 2007 for the shooting to death of Rolland Serrano in 2005, is eligible for parole after 25 years with the time already served to be taken into account as well.

The next Assizes is scheduled to begin on May 8, 2012.