The first witness for the state delivered her testimony yesterday at the beginning of the preliminary inquiry to determine whether Mark Benschop should stand trial for treason.
Corporal 163A5, Marcia Sealey, attached to the records department of the Central Immigration and Passport Office tendered her evidence and was then cross-examined by one of the counsel for Benschop, attorney Basil Williams.
It has been 70 days since charges were formally laid by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) against Benschop and co-accused Phillip Bynoe, with whom he is jointly charged.
Bynoe is currently wanted by the authorities and two warrants have been issued for his arrest in relation to the events of July 3 when, during a protest march, a group stormed the Office of the President (OP) Complex resulting in the deaths of two persons.
According to the charge, the men, between Saturday June 1 and Wednesday July 3 of this year, being citizens of Guyana and owing allegiance to the state of Guyana, formed an intention to overthrow the lawfully elected Government of Guyana by force. They are alleged to have conspired together with persons to forcibly and unlawfully enter into the compound and premises of the OP and it is also alleged that they were present at, and encouraging others, by words and conduct, to unlawfully overtake and storm the OP compound and premises.
Arguments concerning the legality of proceeding with the inquiry in Bynoe's absence had forced several postponements. These culminated last week when the magistrate gave an undertaking before a Full Court of the Supreme Court, to proceed with the matter based on information sworn to by Deputy Commissioner of Police, Leon Trim.
Upon completion of the cross-examination, while the defence sought to proceed with the next witness, Special Prosecutor for the DPP, Sanjeev Datadin said the prosecution had no other witnesses for the day.
This was not well received by Benschop's defence team or the assembly which gathered inside and outside the courtroom. But Datadin explained that he was not prepared to bring his witnesses into what he described as a hostile environment. And while unwilling to disclose how many witnesses would be called for the prosecution, Datadin gave an undertaking to have a sufficient number of witnesses at the ready.
The inquiry is to continue today when the second witness is expected to tender testimony.