Latest update March 12th, 2026 9:56 PM
Prosecution requests paper committal for Mobil Gas Station bombing
…as family of bombing accused protests outside court
(Kaieteur News) – The case surrounding the deadly terrorist bombing at the Regent Street Mobil Gas Station continued on Tuesday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, where the prosecution made full disclosure of evidence and requested that the matter proceed by way of paper committal.
However, tensions escalated outside the courtroom as relatives of one of the accused protested, calling for his release.
The proceedings were heard by Acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty.
During the hearing, four of the seven accused appeared before the court: 33-year-old Venezuelan national Daniel Alexander Ramirez Poedemo; 44-year-old Venezuelan Alexander Bettancourt; Venezuelan national Krystal LaCruz; and Guyanese taxi driver Johnny Boodram. Police Prosecutor Mandel Moore informed the court that full disclosure of all forensic evidence and witness statements had been completed. He further stated that two additional items, which had been sent overseas for detailed forensic analysis, were returned and tendered as evidence.
Following the disclosure, the prosecution requested that the matter proceed by way of paper committal, a process in which the magistrate reviews written evidence to determine whether the accused should be committed to stand trial in the High Court. However, Boodram’s attorney Mikel Puran, requested time to examine the newly submitted evidence before the paper committal could proceed. Magistrate McGusty granted the request and adjourned the matter to December 30, 2025. The accused were further remanded.
Meanwhile, outside the courtroom, relatives and supporters of Johnny Boodram staged a protest, calling for his immediate release. The demonstrators raised placards and chanted “Justice, justice,” asserting that Boodram is innocent and was merely performing his duties as a taxi driver at the time of the incident, with no knowledge of any alleged criminal plan. Throughout the proceedings, Boodram’s lawyer maintained his client’s innocence.
Johnny Boodrams’ family and friends outside the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court calling for his release.
Several placards displayed messages such as “Driving a taxi is not a crime” and “Free Johnny.” Speaking with reporters, Boodram’s brother, Prakash Latchman, said the family was protesting because Boodram is innocent. “He’s just a taxi driver and we protesting for him,” he said.
Boodram’s sister, Venessa Boodram, also voiced her frustration, stating that her brother has been unjustly incarcerated for an extended period. “I want Johnny to get justice because he’s innocent. For years he was a taxi driver, so they got him there long and we ain’t getting no answers. Everybody knows he’s innocent. He ain’t got nothing to do with this; he just get a call and get hired like normal,” she said.
Echoing similar sentiments, Boodram’s wife, Andeli Manohar, questioned how a taxi driver could be held responsible for a passenger’s intentions. “How can a taxi driver know what a passenger is going to do? You cannot send innocent people to prison just like that,” she said. She also highlighted the emotional toll on the family, noting that the Christmas season is approaching and that their one-year-old child is waiting for his father. “I want the truth and justice for him,” she added.
The accused are charged in connection with the October 26 bombing, which claimed the life of six-year-old Soraya Bourne. Poedemo faces a separate indictable charge of committing an act of terrorism, alleging that he used an explosive device at the Mobil Fuel Station with the intent to threaten Guyana’s sovereignty and security or to instil fear among the population. He was not required to enter a plea. Bettancourt, LaCruz, and Boodram are jointly charged with aiding and abetting Poedemo in carrying out the attack.
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