Perceived witness prompting draws protest from courtroom spectators
Stabroek News
October 15, 2002
Chaos erupted in the courtroom yesterday when the Preliminary Inquiry into the charges of treason against Phillip Bynoe and Mark Benschop resumed before Magistrate Chandra Sohan.
As the hearing continued, yesterday’s proceedings were overshadowed by a protest in the courtroom by spectators following heated exchanges between members of the prosecution and Benschop’s defence team.
The defence completed its cross-examination of witness for the State, Constable 17735 Ramesh Itwaru, who is attached to the Presidential Guard, while the seventh witness for the State, Constable 18642 Rabindranauth Mohal, rendered his testimony.
As the defence proceeded with its cross-examination yesterday, the members of the team continued to protest what they alleged was the prompting of the witnesses by the members of the prosecution. Special Prosecutor for the DPP, Sanjeev Datadin, was warned by magistrate Sohan to desist from this practice.
As lead counsel for the defence, Basil Williams, proceeded with the cross-examination of Mohal, an argument ensued when he protested alleged prompting by member of the prosecution, Anil Nandalall.
While the witness was asked to leave the room to allow the attorneys to settle the dispute, Williams advanced more protests, alleging that Nandalall had suggested an answer in the presence of the witness, although the magistrate had instructed the removal of the witness.
An exchange ensued between Williams and the magistrate, when he subsequently questioned how the magistrate could allow the proceedings to be conducted in such a manner and whether the magistrate was willing to censure the members of the prosecution.
This forced a recess during which members of the courtroom audience protested the alleged prompting, continually stomping on the floor.
Following a subsequent meeting of the defence and prosecution with the magistrate in chambers, normalcy resumed and Williams continued his cross-examination until the end of yesterday’s session. The inquiry is to continue today when Williams will resume his cross-examination of Mohal.