ACTING Chief Justice Ian Chang has decreed that, because the schoolgirl manslaughter trial has not concluded, the January and April criminal sessions at the Demerara Assizes will be concurrent.

That is because the April sessions will open today as previously scheduled, in keeping with efforts to accelerate criminal trials rather than have lists of new ones waiting on one, from the January sessions, to end.

Seventy-six cases are listed for the April sessions, including 13 murder, 16 manslaughter, 14 rape, eight causing death by dangerous driving, four carnal knowledge and three buggery.

Justice Roxanne George will continue to preside and be joined by Justice Dawn Gregory-Barnes, each to conduct 38 trials.

Today, as well, Justice George is to hear Defence no-case submissions by Senior Counsel Bernard De Santos, who is representing Lititia Bowen on the manslaughter indictment.

Bowen, who was a student at the time, is indicted for the unlawful killing of Jacklyn Levius on November 30, 2005, in a Woolford Avenue, Georgetown compound.

State Prosecutor Ganesh Hira closed his case yesterday and De Santos elected to make legal arguments in the absence of the jury.

The last witness to testify for the Prosecution was Government Pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh.