An original digital voice recording was yesterday played in court for the first time when the Preliminary Inquiry continued into the treason charge against Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Major Bruce Munroe, his wife Carol Ann Munroe and ex-soldier Leonard Wharton who are accused of treason.
The PI is being heard by acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. When the matter was called Colonel Sydney James took to the witness box to swear to the contents of the tape.
State-appointed prosecutor Vic Puran made an application for the CD and the original voice recorder to be available to police witness Assistant Superintendent Simeon Reid who had been working closely with the prosecution for him to compare the two.
On the last occasion, Puran had made an application to have the court hearing of the treason matter convened at the National Communications Network (NCN). Defence Attorney Nigel Hughes, however, cited several grounds on which the application of the prosecution should be refused.
The prosecution’s application was denied.
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 his office, in order to compel the Government of Guyana to change its measures.
Treason is not a bailable offence. The matter will continue today.
