A petition was filed this morning urging Chancellor Yonette Cummings-Edwards to remove Magistrate Alex Moore from presiding over the proceedings against Marcus Bisram, who is accused of masterminding the murder of a Corentyne carpenter Faiyaz Narinedatt.
Following years of legal challenges, Bisram was extradited to Guyana late last month and was remanded to prison after he was formally charged with commanding others to murder of Narinedatt in 2016. The charge states that between October 31st, 2016 and November 1st, 2016, at Number 70 Village, Corentyne, he counselled, procured and commanded Harri Paul Parsram, Radesh Motie, Niran Yacoob, Diodath Datt and Orlando Dickie to murder Narinedatt.
Stabroek News has learnt that the petitioners are arguing that Magistrate Moore’s demeanour during a hearing at the Whim Magistrate’s Court “both in action and language” was openly prejudicial in favour of Bisram and his attorney, Sanjeev Datadin.
“His conduct was clearly inimical to the justice sought by the aggrieved family of the murdered victim,” the petition states.
Additionally, it was also highlighted that during the court proceedings “the magistrate never allowed the prosecutor to present her case with coherence, clarity and logical sequence.” Instead, it stated, “He (Moore) and Mr. Datadin in obscenely loud voices, continuously interrupted the prosecutor in an effort to disorient her argument. It was perceptibly evident that the magistrate demonstrated no interest in having the matter methodically presented by the prosecutor. Falling into fits of unjustifiable rage, he often banged his fist on the table and became vociferously menacing towards the prosecutor. In monopolising the court hearing, he overtly attempted to drive fear into her and silence into docile submission. The method he utilised was an obvious deviation from established and time honoured practice in judicial considerations.”
The petition also stressed, that while the magistrate has a duty to execute responsibilities devolved upon his office, he must do so dispassionately and with complete fidelity to the highest standard of jurisprudence. “He must be neutral or appear to be neutral in carrying out the mandate of his status”.
As a result, they request that the Chancellor have Magistrate Moore recuse himself in the best interest of the justice.
The family of Narinedatt earlier today also voiced its full support for the office of Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and State Prosecutor Stacy Goodings in the handling of the case.