–as hearing into murder of Berbice carpenter continues

MURDER accused Marcus Bisram on Monday made his second court appearance at the Whim Magistrate Court before Senior Magistrate Alex Moore where the decision was made for the matter to be heard by way of a paper committal.
Moore, who took over the case from Magistrate Renita Singh, who is on vacation, made the decision after listening to lengthy submissions from State prosecutor Stacy Goodings, and the defence, led by Attorney Sanjeev Datadin.

Goodings told the court that in the interest of justice, she believes a preliminary inquiry (PI) is in order, since such a course of action allows for the presentation of witnesses and evidence, thereby forming a stronger case. This being the case, she asked that the matter be adjourned until December 28, 2019, much to the displeasure of the defense.
To further strengthen her call for an adjournment, Goodings stated that several files and documents necessary for a paper committal would need to be photocopied, which task, because it is time-consuming, she would have to do herself despite having other scheduled matters to attend to.

However, Dattadin, backed by a group of three other lawyers, dismissed the Prosecutor’s line of argument, and called instead for a Paper Committal, since a magistrate court cannot give a verdict on his client but rather determine whether or not he goes to trial in the High Court.
He argued that a delay in trial is a serious violation of a citizen’s constitutional right to a trial within a reasonable time.

Datadin further offered to make resources available, if necessary, to assist the Prosecutor in getting together the required files and documents to facilitate a speedy hearing. He also questioned the readiness
of the Prosecution, since, in his opinion, three weeks is much too long to make available a full disclosure of statements. On that note, he told the court that the prosecution had had ample time to be prepared and ready to facilitate the proceedings, since they had been fighting for the extradition of his client for over two years.

As Defence and Prosecution argued back and forth, Magistrate Moore agreed to allow the paper committal moving forward, since he’d heard nothing to justify an application for a PI.
Moore said he believes in delivering a swift trial, regardless of in whose favour the proceedings may lead, and as such called for a full disclosure of evidence to the court by Monday. He also agreed to a visit to the crime scene, as requested by the Prosecution, while allowing for the defence to cross-examine a witness on the said date as well.

He further advised that the matter will be heard at the Whim Magistrate’s Court until he is directed otherwise, but that given the close proximity to the scene of the crime, the matter will be called at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court before him next Monday instead.

SEATING PRIVILEGES

Meanwhile relatives of the deceased Faiyaz Narinedatt, who was 25 when he was killed, expressed disappointment in the police for allegedly favouring Bisram’s family over theirs by allowing them to sit in the courtroom during the proceedings while they had to wait outside. Bisram was extradited to Guyana days after Narinedatt’s family observed his third death anniversary. Narinedatt’s body was found around 03:30hrs on Tuesday, November 1, 2016 on the Number 70 Public Road, East Corentyne, Berbice. His death was initially reported as a suspected hit-and-run accident. It was later reported that Bisram had made sexual advances on Narinedatt; advances that the latter had not taken too kindly to.
Bisram, who holds both American and Guyanese citizenships, became a Person of Interest to the police after they began investigating the death of the carpenter. He is accused of ordering the fatal beating of Narinedatt, a young father of two. Bisram was charged on November 21, 2019 and remanded to prison, while five others: Orlando Dickie, Radesh Motie, Diodath Datt, Harri Paul Parsram, and Niran Yacoob have also been committed to stand trial for the murder.