Defence objects to perceived witness prompting
Prosecution cites unfair questions
Stabroek News
October 10, 2002
The defence continued its grilling of Presidential Guard Surendra Hanceram yesterday when the Preliminary Inquiry to determine whether Mark Benschop should be committed to stand trial for treason continued.
Lead counsel for the defence, Basil Williams continued his cross- examination of Hanceram, a constable stationed as a Presidential Guard and attached to the Body Protection Unit during an afternoon session yesterday.
Williams continued his objections to what he perceived to be the prompting of the witness by members of the prosecution while the prosecution objected to what it described as unfair questions being posed to the witness.
Meanwhile, Special Prose-cutor Sanjeev Datadin identified attorney Anil Mohabir Nandalall as his second after Williams contended that the prosecution should be limited to having only two members directly participate in the proceedings, as the defence had been.
While there was an initial objection by Nandalall, Williams noted that if all three members of the prosecution were allowed to deal with the examination and cross-examination of witnesses, the defence would be prejudiced since they were only allowed two, himself and Mortimer Coddette.
There was an initial objection by Nandalall who suggested that all attorneys involved be allowed to deal with witnesses, however the magistrate requested Datadin to name his second while noting that the subject could be revisited at a later hearing.
Proceedings were confined to an afternoon session yesterday after the absence of the presiding magistrate, Chandra Sohan during the morning. The court was informed yesterday that the magistrate could not travel to the city from Berbice since minibuses had blocked the road and the matter would be adjourned for one day. Later, it was communicated by the chief clerk that the magistrate was on his way and would be in court for 1:00 pm.
The inquiry is set to continue today when Williams will continue his cross-examination of Hanceram.