The preliminary inquiry into the murder of Yohance Douglas did not commence yesterday before Chief Magistrate Juliet Holder-Allen and is now set to begin on April 22.
Mahendra Baijnauth and Gerald Alonzo were charged with the unlawful murder of Yohance Douglas on March 1. Baijnauth was also charged with the unlawful wounding of Ronson Grey on the same day.
The court heard yesterday that a special prosecutor from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) will be prosecuting the case. Defence counsel Compton Richardson and Hukumchand had no objections to the new prosecutor.
Baijnauth and Alonzo who arrived late in the morning wearing solemn expressions were greeted by an angry crowd of protestors who had assembled in the courtyard to get a glimpse of the officers.
Some protestors carried pictures of the slain Douglas into the courtroom and thrust them into the faces of Baijnauth and Alonzo while the two were seated in the prisoner’s dock, but court was not in session at the time.
The two bowed their heads as the protestors commented on the manner in which Douglas was killed.
At that point Douglas’ mother who was seated in the courtroom dressed in red and black broke down in tears.
Robert Bourne, President of the University of Guyana Students’ Society (UGSS) could be seen consoling Aslin Douglas. The two were not present at the first hearing last Friday afternoon.
Protestors, mostly females, voiced objections that the officers were not handcuffed after their court appearance. “They are prisoners too,” one woman snapped as the two were being escorted into the court lock-ups.
Upon seeing Douglas’ mother some protestors expressed their sympathy and offered words of encouragement. The bereaved woman broke down in tears a second time.
A group of heavily armed police officers escorted the two accused into a pick-up truck which quickly sped away from the court. On their way out the defendants were once again verbally abused by protestors.
One man stood with outstretched arms in an apparent attempt to prevent the officers leaving the courtyard.
An argument erupted in the courtyard between protestors and a passer-by after the two prisoners had left. A woman who was passing at the time commented on the protestors’ behaviour and suggested that the police should silence them. (Iana Seales)