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Kwame McCoy leads defence against Clifton Stewart
The criminal matter against Information and Press Liaison to the President, Kwame McCoy,
Kwame McCoy
was lengthened yesterday when the government official opted to call witnesses in the assault matter involving Clifton Stewart.
The trial is being conducted by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. Yesterday’s hearing was set for ruling but when the defendant was required to lead the defence in the matter, Senior Counsel Bernard De Santos who is representing McCoy requested to have certain information presented to the court.
Before this, Mc Coy gave a lengthy speech in his defence against the allegations of threatening language and assault reportedly committed against Stewart. Mc Coy was given three options; he could have taken the witness stand and give a sworn statement, stand outside the witness box and give an unsworn statement or he could have elected to remain silent.
McCoy chose to give an unsworn statement and commenced a speech on what he said was a trail of political concoctions, lies and theatrics. He could not be cross examined.
He used most of his words to defend his political position and blasted the police saying that he being before the court was testimony of the investigative weakness of the Guyana Police Force, in that, one could make false allegations for political gain and without thorough investigations, one could be charged.
McCoy alleged that prior to the allegations made against him, he had never seen Stewart. He said that even if he remembered seeing Stewart it would have been for a short period and not in a situation of confrontation to warrant an assault, threatening language or threatening behaviour.
McCoy continued that a tail of concoctions, lies and theatrics was what he has been enduring throughout his political life. He said due to his political affiliation he has been viewed by the likes of the victim and the group whose deed he is carrying out as a “house slave” and a traitor to black Guyanese.
Mc Coy spoke briefly about the day in question making no mention of a confrontation between Stewart and himself. He spoke of police intervention in him carrying out his duties at D’Urban Street on the day in question and according to his statement; at no point was there a run in with the virtual complainant.
The government official further made reference to the alleged gun used. McCoy said that documented evidence would show that long before the allegations against him; his firearm had been lodged with the police in the firearm registry department at Brickdam.
McCoy reiterated that throughout his young political life he had endured similar episodes of allegations which were proven to be false. McCoy closed by saying that he is innocent and has wasted months of court appointments because of political considerations.
De Santos on the last occasion had called for the document that would have stated the lodging of Mc Coy’s gun at the police station to be presented in court. He withdrew that application when the prosecution closed its case, but after McCoy’s defence yesterday, the lawyer again called for the evidence to be presented.
The documents are expected to be presented on the next occasion. The defence is also expected to present witnesses in the alleged incident.
The case will be called again on June 15.
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