-by Kimberly Giddings
The prosecution’s witness list in the Mohamed extradition case is narrowing, with no more than four witnesses left to testify as the proceedings approach the one-year mark.
The case will return to the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on October 21 and 22.
Lead prosecutor, King’s Counsel Terence Williams, confirmed Tuesday that four witnesses have been served, but said the prosecution could ultimately call fewer.
His comments came as another lengthy phase of the proceedings wrapped up, with defence attorney Siand Dhurjon concluding more than 20 hours of cross-examination of Head of Special Branch, Senior Superintendent Prem Narine.
Williams acknowledged the pace of the case, saying the prosecution wants to see the court’s time used efficiently, while stressing that both sides must be allowed to properly present their cases.
“One would always want to see the court resources being used efficiently but we are happy that justice is being done and sometimes justice takes some time and as we say where the questions are irrelevant repetitive, we make the objections and the court rules, that is how the justice system works,” he said.
With October marking one year since the extradition proceedings began, Williams said the prosecution is looking to move through its remaining witnesses.
Tuesday’s hearing also brought Dhurjon’s marathon questioning of Narine to an end. Several questions triggered prosecution objections, with Chief Magistrate Judy Latchman ruling some irrelevant.
The defence returned to Narine’s destroyed pocketbook, Azruddin Mohamed’s arrest and the police operation along Smyth Street. Dhurjon also suggested Mohamed was a threat to the PPP/C — a suggestion Narine rejected, maintaining that Mohamed posed a threat to the people of Guyana.
Outside the central extradition evidence, the court addressed a social media post featuring Narine’s 11-year-old son. The Chief Magistrate cautioned against involving children in matters concerning adults.
But Narine’s time under cross-examination is not yet over. With Dhurjon finished, attorney Roysdale Forde is expected to take over the questioning when the case resumes at 1:30 p.m. on October 21, with proceedings continuing on October 22.