Sixth state witness testifies
Stabroek News
October 11, 2002
Constable 17735 Ramesh Itwaru, attached to the Presidential Guard, delivered his testimony yesterday, becoming the sixth witness for the state, when the Preliminary Inquiry into the charges of treason against Mark Benschop and Phillip Bynoe continued.
Upon the completion of his testimony Itwaru was subject to a brief cross-examination by attorney Mortimer Coddette, one of the members of Benschop's defence team. Roysdale Forde, Shaun Allicock, Emily Dodson, Carol Martindale-Howard, Raphael Trotman and lead counsel Basil Williams are the other attorneys who make up Benschop's defence.
Sanjeev Datadin leads the prosecution for the DPP, which also includes attorneys Anil Nandalall and Darshan Ramdhani.
As Coddette proceeded, he was met with strong objection from members of the prosecution who suggested that his line of questioning was wholly irrelevant and embarrassing to the witness.
Earlier, lead counsel for Benschop's defence, Basil Williams, concluded his cross-examination of Presidential Guard Surendra Hanceram who was then subject to re-examination by the Prosecution.
Meanwhile there was a resolution yesterday to allow the direct participation of all the attorneys associated with the case following an application by Nandalall, which was met with no objection from the defence.
The hearing has now been fixed to continue on Monday when Coddette is to continue his cross-examination of Itwaru. On inquiry by Coddette, the magistrate said he was asked and agreed to volunteer an extra day, extending to four the number of days he sits in the criminal jurisdiction.
Meanwhile, as the witness made his way out of the courtyard he was followed by a small crowd who subjected him to verbal assaults.