Treason PI to begin February 15

Feb 12, 2011 News

… state has no video recording

Police prosecutor Inspector Fazil Karimbaksh informed the court yesterday that the state had responded to the submission made by defense counsel Nigel Hughes in association with Gregory Gaskin, Trenton Lake and George Thomas who are representing the three treason accused, Bruce Munroe, a Major in the Guyana Defence Force, his wife Carol-Ann Munroe, and reserve officer in the Guyana Defense Force, Leonard Wharton.
According to the prosecutor, he was instructed by the Director of Public Prosecutor (DPP) that the state is only in possession of the audio tape and not the video recording that was reported earlier.
On the last occasion, defense counsel, had applied for the two recordings to be tendered as evidence in the trial. According to Hughes, the state’s revelation has come as a surprise to him.
The lawyer further added that from the initial stage in the investigation the state had reported that it was in possession of both of the tapes.
Lawyers opined that the prosecutor has an uphill task to prove his case, and that the accused are very hopeful and confident that what they know the police have against them does not amount to a conviction.
Treason is a capital offence that is not bailable
The prosecution added that the state does not believe that the court will accept the tendering of the audio recording into evidence. Besides the court is yet to rule on the tendering of such evidence.
Conversely, the lawyers are arguing that the tendering of the audio tape will be a fundamental piece of evidence that will severe as justice for their clients.
Lawyers for the accused fear that some parts of the statements given by their clients while they were in custody at Police Headquarter, Eve Leary, Georgetown, have been edited.
And indeed, after the tape was replayed to the three suspects, it was found that certain parts of their statement were abridged.
However, Hughes mentioned that despite the fact that the court is yet to hand down its ruling, he is ready to proceed with the commencement of the preliminary inquires.
Furthermore, the prosecutor said that the state is also gear for the commencement of the PI.
The state appointed prosecutor is yet to make his appearance. Karimbaksh did not disclose the name of the appointed prosecutor but legal observers say that the Special Prosecutor is Sanjeev Datadin
The preliminary inquiry will begin on February 15, before acting Chief Magistrate Priya Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
The three suspects were accused of plotting to depose the President and Government of Guyana, between December 1, 2009 and December 16, 2010. On their last appearance,
Police Prosecutor Fazil Karimbaksh produced a medical certificate showing that Carol-Ann Munroe was examined by a psychiatrist.
During that hearing, Hughes however, lamented the fact that his client was still being kept in solitary confinement, and is being kept semi-comatose. According to the lawyer the condition his client is in can trigger a schizophrenic episode.
The last persons to be slapped with treason charges were Mark Benschop and Philip Bynoe. Benschop has since been released from prison where he spent five years while Bynoe was never brought to court although charged.

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Treason PI to begin February 15

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