Twelve cases of rape, ten cases of unlawful carnal knowledge and nine cases of indecent assault, are the major sexual offense cases to be heard in the 2004 June criminal assizes which started on Tuesday morning at the Numbers One and Two High Courts in St. George's.

The list consists of 72 cases and includes three cases of murder and incest, 2 threats of death, one attempted defilement, stealing, burglary, grievous harm, possession of firearm, robbery, sedition, house breaking and dishonestly receiving.

The assizes was called to order by High Court Judges Kenneth Benjamin and Francis Belle who presided over the opening sessions. The judges read the indictments and the setting trial of dates for defendants.

Some of the persons down for trial on indictments of rape are Brendon Briggs, Christopher Noel, Keith Renaud, Clarie Wallace, Keron Sandy, Jhonnie Connell, Ryan Antonie, Lyndon Williams, Edmond Phillip and Devon Charles.

According to the assizes list, three persons will appear before the Court on charges of murder. They are Hilary Ogilvie, Jacob Joseph and Aldin "Aussie"Phillip.

Ogilvie who is said to be mentally ill is accused of killing her mother less than two years ago. She is expected to appear on Monday (June 7) before Justice Benjamin in the Number One High Court.

During Tuesday's sitting, the court took a decision to remove from the Criminal indictment list the murder charge laid against Phillip who is accused of the slaying of Rawle "Southie" Gilkes, a suspected drug dealer of Mt. Airy, St. Paul's.

The body of Gilkes was found with bullet wounds to the head in his car along the Point Salines main road about two years ago. Phillip's lawyer Peter David told the Court that in the interest of justice the matter should be dismissed since it was not the first time the case was brought before the Court.

David told the court that the Prosecution_s main witness in the matter is absconded murder convict Sheldon _Dutch_ Bain who was convicted on April 7 for the murder of Belmont trafficker, Omelia Roberts.

Former road march and soca monarch winner, Sheldon Douglas will also make another High Court appearance on a charge of Grievous Harm, while local journalist Stanley Charles is back for a third time on a charge of sedition.

The Sedition charge against the BBC-trained journalist stemmed from a radio programme in 1998 in which he made mention of a plan to assassinate former Foreign Affairs Minister Dr. Raphael Fletcher by members of the current government.

The allegation was made after Dr. Fletcher resigned from government and brought an early end to the first term in office of Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell and his New National Party (NNP) administration.

It was agreed during the first day of hearing that the Stanley Charles matter should be given special condition because of the length of time it was before the court.

Meanwhile, accused bank robber Glen "Ferow" Samuel is expected to go on trial later this month in connection with the February 2000 armed robbery of Scotia Bank in Grand Anse. About three years ago, Samuel and another suspect, Benjamin Matthews were indicted on charges of robbery, illegal possession of firearm and ammunition.

Samuel skipped the country shortly before the commencement of the trial but Matthews was acquitted by a jury.

The accused was caught in the United States by enforcement officials who deported the wanted man back to Grenada after being on the run for nearly two years.