Start of Benschop's defence adjourned until tomorrow
Stabroek News
December 5, 2002
Lawyers for Mark Benschop were unable to begin the defence's case yesterday when the Preliminary Inquiry into the charges of treason was adjourned owing to the absence of presiding Magistrate Chandra Sohan.
After waiting for nearly two and a half hours, lawyers from both the defence and prosecution were informed that Chief Justice Carl Singh, having been made aware of the situation, made attempts to contact the magistrate. His attempts were however unsuccessful and he relayed a message, asking that the hearing be adjourned until tomorrow.
On Monday the magistrate had overruled the no-case submissions made by the defence following nearly a month of deliberation, finding that a prima facie case had been established against him. Benschop's lawyers elected to lead a defence and were scheduled to present the first of their witnesses yesterday.
It is common practice for the magistrate to relay messages through the clerk of his court but he made no contact yesterday.
The absence of the magistrate left defence attorneys flabbergasted and lead counsel for the defence, Basil Williams, lamented this latest development which he said was unheard of in a case of such magnitude.
Benschop was subsequently placed before Senior Magistrate Melissa Robert-son-Ogle and further remanded.
