The Preliminary Inquiry into the carnal knowledge charge against television owner Chandra Narine Sharma continued yesterday at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court where a voir dire was held to determine the complainant’s competence to give sworn testimony.
The matter was adjourned to June 21 when the virtual complainant in the matter is expected to begin giving her evidence.
In court yesterday, the defence team submitted that the complainant was not capable of giving sworn testimony from the witness box but the prosecution objected.
Following this objection, a voir dire (a trial within a trial) was held to determine whether the girl would be allowed to offer evidence in the matter.
Following submissions by the defence team and the prosecution, Magistrate Susana Lovell ruled that the girl was competent.
The prosecution’s case was presented by Doodnauth Singh S.C. and Sharma was represented by attorneys Nigel Hughes and Vic Puran.
Sharma was charged with having carnal knowledge of a thirteen-year-old girl and was subsequently granted $2M bail by Magistrate Lovell.
