Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson-Ogle yesterday ruled that the second witness in the Preliminary Inquiry (PI) into the Oliver Hinckson matter could not give evidence after defence counsel Vic Puran objected.
Special prosecutor in the Hinckson matters Sanjeev Datadin had started to cross-examine Inspector 11519 Victorine Foremont who is attached to the computer section of the Criminal Investigation Department when Puran objected. Datadin had already asked the inspector about six questions before Puran told the court that “the foundation of the evidence has not been laid.”
In response Datadin said Foremont, after viewing a DVD of the press conference at City Hall during which Hinckson is alleged to have made seditious statements, would be able to tell the court what she saw. The prosecutor’s attempt to explain the witness’s relevance to the matter and the defence’s objection resulted in the magistrate calling them to the bench where Puran subsequently tendered his objection.
Puran told the court that the witness cannot testify about the footage on the DVD because she was not the maker of the DVD and therefore her testimony would be based on hear-say. Further he said that the item stems from a chain which the court itself has not ruled admissible.
The magistrate then read the objection to the witness and explained why she would not be able to continue her testimony. The PI was then adjourned to Thursday so that Datadin can reply.
Defence counsel Gregory Gaskin and Llewellyn John also attended yesterday’s proceedings. Nigel Hughes who was attending to other matters within the jurisdiction was absent.
No mention was made of the bail application for Hinckson. The last time the matter was called Magistrate Robertson-Ogle had reserved her decision regarding a new application for bail that was made by Hughes.
Further, no progress has been made in the firearm charge against Hinckson. Police Prosecutor Robert Tyndall was advised that the matter is adjourned to the same date as the advocating matter.
