Acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry yesterday fixed February 15 for the commencement of the preliminary inquiry (PI) into the treason charges against Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Major Bruce Munroe, his wife Carol Ann Munroe and ex-soldier Leonard Wharton, and the presentation of the state prosecutor.
Meanwhile, Assistant Superin-tendent of Police Fazil Karimbaksh yesterday presented to the court Carol Ann Munroe’s medical certificate from the psychiatrist attached to the New Amsterdam Prison where she is on remand.
The medical certificate acknowledged that the woman’s medication had been changed. The court was then told by Karimbaksh that the psychiatrist has recommended that Munroe be further examined by “Dr. Harry” (Psychiatrist Dr Bhiro Harry).
Yesterday’s hearing was fixed for Karimbaksh to report on Mrs. Munroe’s medical condition and who will be the state-appointed prosecutor as well as to inform the court of the prosecution’s stance on making audio-visual and other pieces of evidence available to the defence in the treason matter against Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Major Bruce Munroe, his wife Carol Ann and ex-soldier Leonard Wharton.
Additionally, the hearing was for attorney-at-law Nigel Hughes to lay over his legal submissions to the court.
After furnishing the court with the woman’s medical certificate, the prosecution then reported that the State is ready to proceed and commence the preliminary inquiry (PI) at “any time convenient to the court” at which time the special state prosecutor will be presented.
Karimbaksh, however, again failed to identify to the court who “that person” will be, stating that according to his instructions, when the PI commences, “that person” will be present.
As directed on the last occasion, Hughes then tendered his legal submissions and authorities to the court as ordered by acting Chief Magistrate Sewnarine-Beharry who is presiding over the matter.
When asked to respond to the request about making the audio-visual tapes and other pieces of evidence kept by the police available to the defence, Karimbaksh said that his superiors will have that report ready when next the matter is called.
On all previous occasions, Hughes had requested that these pieces of evidence kept by the police be made available to the defence in order that it, [the defence], may properly prepare itself for the PI.
After listening to the prosecution and defence, Magistrate Sewnarine-Beharry then adjourned the matter to February 11, ordering that on that day the prosecution must respond to making the pieces of evidence in possession of the police available to the defence.
Further, she said that February 11 will be fixed for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the prosecution to respond to the laid-over legal submissions, applications and authorities made by Hughes.
The trio is accused of treason: the charge states that between December 1, 2009 and December 16, 2010, at Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara, they intended to level war within Guyana to force the President out of office, in order to compel the Government of Guyana to change its measures.
