The statement that was made by Janiel Howard, one of the three men charged in the Kaieteur News grenade incident, was on Wednesday admitted as evidence by Chief Magistrate,Ann McLennan at the end of the voir dire into the admissibility of the statement.
The Chief Magistrate ruled on the voir dire into the statement that was given by Janiel Howard in the presence of two officers.
Howard, Alfie Garraway and Leroy Williams, were charged with unlawfully and maliciously conspiring with other persons to cause an explosion, by way of using a grenade, which was likely to endanger life or cause serious damage to property.
Howard had told the court that he did give a statement to the police, but it was only one page, back and front. When the accused’s statement was presented in court, it had amounted to two pages. Howard told the magistrate that the additional page was not his own. As such, the court embarked upon a voir dire to determine the admissibility of the statement.
The Chief Magistrate told the court that the caution statement that was taken from Howard on June 13, 2016, was made freely and voluntarily by the accused and will be admitted as evidence in the Preliminary Inquiry.
Police Prosecutor Neville Jeffers disclosed to the magistrate that three police and three civilian testimonies are needed to close the case.
The Inquiry was adjourned to today.
